Wooroolin Wetlands

So there I was happily driving along the Bunya Highway, around 4 pm, thinking I must be getting close to Kingaroy, thinking that's where I'd stay the night, when I came upon a tiny township (population in 2006 census of 164). I said yesterday that I'd get back to my trip through Central Queensland but I had in fact moved south into the South Burnett region.  I slowed to the required speed limit, noticed a few houses on the right, a camping ground on the left, blinked once and was through the town.  But then, as I accelerated away, on my left, glimpses of  water, a lot of water caught my eye.  I stopped to turn around to go back to park in the township and go for a walk, then noticed a road just ahead on my left which ran alongside the water.  So I ventured up the side road for a look. 

 

 

I'd discovered the Wooroolin Wetlands. A friend jokingly pointed out when I was telling him with great enthusiasm about the huge wetlands ("they were massive, beautiful, went for miles, as far as the eye could see") that I hadn't really discovered the place but I honestly felt that I did.  They were so unexpected.  Wetlands.  209 ha (516 acres) of wetlands.  I had no idea there were wetlands out here anywhere.

 

The story goes that the dead trees originally grew in a dry lagoon. At the turn of the 19th century the lagoon suddenly dried up after an earthquake. In the mid ‘70s, I think it must have been the big floods of '73/'74 which occurred at the time I left to come to NZ, the wetlands filled again and the inundated trees drowned. They dried up again over time, at one stage the locals used to ride bikes through the area. Then came the floods of 2010 and 2011.  They tell the story of Australia - drought and flood.

 

For now they create a beautiful natural sculpture and a vital habitat for birds - around 80 species.  Not one of them would stay where they were when I got out of the car.  The place was teeming with birdlife.

 

Contaminated mud

I thought the construction work at Limeburners Creek Wetlands in town meant there's to be new walkways.   I've only walked through this area once and didn't find it very inspiring and I only stopped to be a nosy parker and see what was happening.  It's in an industrial part of town,  next to a  busy road and the walk is around ponds for the town sewerage system.  Not far away is the recycling plant.  The entrance is opposite the SPCA, the dogs were kicking off when I arrived and I imagined I could hear the one that wanted me to come and take it home.  Fought off that urge!

When I stopped there on Sunday there were almost as many warning signs as there were idle machines.  Contaminated mud a greater hazard than trucks and diggers?  That's interesting.   

Is this part of the council's $4.0M sewage treatment plant I wonder?  I had to find my way past the fences.  The machines were idle but I can assure you I was aware of the mud, and stayed well clear.

I'm no engineer but I can see that has nothing to do with a walkway.  Definitely looks more sewage-ish to me.  

I was tempted to cross over the bridge.  But honestly, not only did that mud smell bad, it even looked threatening.  I do love the little bridge for the workmen though. 

 I explored further and thought I'd found another way into the area but no, it too lead to more signs.  And that darn dog was still barking.
 

 

 For the rest of the day I was stuck with Patti Page warbling in my head:

Change your reckless way of livin', cross over the bridge
Leave your fickle past behind you,
And true romance will find you,
Brother, cross over the bridge

I didn't chase it away, better that than that dog calling my name.