This is a list of wetlands in Australia that are designated by the Ramsar Convention as sites of international importance. Under the convention, the wetlands are considered as being of significant value not only for the Australian community, but for humanity as a whole.
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands came into force for Australia on . As of 28 February 2018, Australia has 66 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance, with a total area of .
Management of Ramsar wetlands in the Australian jurisdiction The management of Ramsar sites listed within Australia is controlled at national level by the Australian government via the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and its accompanying regulations, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000.
The act, as of 2015, lists the principles required for meeting treaty obligations in respect to "wetlands of international importance" including "environmental approvals" (i.e. sections 16-17B), the prerequisites for the making of both "declarations" and "bilateral agreements" (i.e. sections 34C and 37F, and 52 respectively), the approval process (i.e. section 138), "strategic assessments" (i.e. section 134J), and the management approach (i.e. sections 325 to 336 inclusive).
The applicable regulation (i.e. regulation 10.02) lists three requirements as of 2015. Firstly, a set of general principles for management is described including the need for "public consultation," the involvement of parties with an interest and/or who may be affected by the management of wetland, as well as allowing for "continuing community and technical input." Secondly, the requirements for the management plan to be prepared for each listed wetland are described. Thirdly, the requirements for the "environmental impact assessment and approval" are described for parties wishing to undertake activities that are likely to have "a significant impact on the ecological character of a Ramsar wetland."
Australian Capital Territory The following wetlands are located in the Australian Capital Territory:
Ramsar wetlands of the Australian Capital Territory Name Location Coordinates Area Designated Designation No. Description Image Ginini Flats Subalpine Bog Complex Namadgi National Park RS793
New South Wales The following wetlands are located in New South Wales:
Ramsar wetlands of New South Wales Name Location Coordinates Area Designated Designation No. Description Image Blue Lake Kosciuszko National Park RS800 Caryapundy Swamp Narriearra Caryapundy Swamp National Park RS2520 Fivebough and Tuckerbil Swamps Riverina RS1224 Gwydir Wetlands North West Slopes RS993 Hunter Estuary Wetlands RS287 Little Llangothlin Lagoon Northern Tablelands RS798 Lake Pinaroo Sturt National Park, Far West RS799 Macquarie Marshes North West Slopes RS337 Myall Lakes Mid North Coast RS994 Narran Wetlands North West Slopes RS995 Central Murray Forests Riverina RS1291 Paroo River Wetlands Far West RS1716 Towra Point Nature Reserve Sutherland Shire, Sydney RS286
Northern Territory The following wetlands are located in the Northern Territory:
Ramsar wetlands of the Northern Territory Name Location Coordinates Area Designated Designation No. Description Image Cobourg Peninsula Garig Gunak Barlu National Park RS1 Kakadu National Park (Stage 1) Alligator Rivers,Kakadu National Park RS204 Kakadu National Park (Stage 2) RS441
Queensland The following wetlands are located in Queensland:
Ramsar wetlands of Queensland Name Location Coordinates Area Designated Designation No. Description Image Bowling Green Bay North Queensland RS632 Currawinya Lakes South West Queensland RS791 Great Sandy Strait Wide Bay–Burnett RS992 Moreton Bay South East Queensland RS631 Shoalwater and Corio Bays Central Queensland RS792
South Australia The following wetlands are located in South Australia:
Ramsar wetlands of South Australia Name Location Coordinates Area Designated Designation No. Description Image Banrock Station Wetland Complex Riverland RS1221 Bool and Hacks Lagoons Limestone Coast RS322 Coongie Lakes Lake Eyre Basin RS376 Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Wetland Lake Alexandrina RS321 Piccaninnie Ponds Karst Wetlands Limestone Coast RS2136 Riverland Ramsar site Riverland RS377
Tasmania The following wetlands are located in Tasmania:
Ramsar wetlands of Tasmania Name Location Coordinates Area Designated Designation No. Description Image Apsley Marshes Freycinet Peninsula RS255 Cape Barren Island, east coast lagoons Furneaux Group RS255 Interlaken Lakeside Reserve Central Highlands RS259 Jocks Lagoon RS258 Lavinia King Island RS253 Little Waterhouse Lake North East RS260 Logan Lagoon Flinders Island,Furneaux Group RS252 Lower Ringarooma River North East RS257 Moulting Lagoon Nature Reserve Freycinet Peninsula RS251 Pittwater-Orielton Lagoon Southern Tasmania RS254
Victoria The following wetlands are located in Victoria:
Ramsar wetlands of Victoria Name Location Coordinates Area Designated Designation No. Description Image Barmah Forest Goulburn Valley, Hume RS262 Corner Inlet South Gippsland RS261 Glenelg Estuary and Discovery Bay Ramsar Site Glenelg Shire RS2344 Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands Port Phillip RS1096 Gippsland Lakes East Gippsland RS269 Gunbower Forest RS263 Hattah-Kulkyne Lakes Murray Mallee RS264 Kerang Wetlands Murray Mallee RS265 Lake Albacutya Wimmera RS270 Port Phillip Bay and Bellarine Peninsula Port Phillip,Bellarine Peninsula RS266 Western District Lakes Western District RS268 Western Port Bay Western Port RS267
Western Australia The following wetlands are located in Western Australia:
Ramsar wetlands of Western Australia Name Location Coordinates Area Designated Designation No. Description Image Becher Point Wetlands Swan Coastal Plain RS1048 Eighty Mile Beach Kimberley RS480 Forrestdale and Thomsons Lakes Swan Coastal Plain RS481 Lake Gore Goldfields-Esperance RS1049 Lake Warden System Goldfields-Esperance RS485 Lakes Argyle and Kununurra Kimberley RS478 Muir-Byenup System South West RS1050 Ord River Floodplain Kimberley RS477 Peel-Yalgorup System Swan Coastal Plain RS482 Roebuck Bay Kimberley RS479 Toolibin Lake Wheatbelt RS483 Vasse-Wonnerup System South West RS484
External territories The following wetlands are located in the External territories:
Ramsar wetlands of the External territories Name Location Coordinates Area Designated Designation No. Description Image Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve Ashmore and Cartier Islands RS1220 Coral Sea Reserves (Coringa-Herald and Lihou Reef and Cays) Coral Sea Islands Territory RS1222 The Dales Christmas Island RS1225 Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve Coral Sea Islands Territory RS1223 Hosnies Spring Christmas Island RS512 Pulu Keeling National Park Cocos (Keeling) Islands RS797
See also
List of Ramsar sites worldwide A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia
References
External links Official Australian Government webpage List of Ramsar Sites Australia's National Report to the 11th Conference of the Parties, 2011