Flooding rain has created a veritable playground and ripe breeding area at the Eastgrove Mulwaree Ponds project. Its planners had only just finished building a causeway and dam when the rains fell.

Together with three stone berms, they’re channelling water to all the right places. Goulburn Wetlands group member and scientist Rodney Falconer said while there were plenty of bird and plant species abounding, more would arrive as the water subsided.

“In flood, birds don’t come straight way but flock here as the water dries up a bit and the wetlands retain the moisture,” he told the Post.

Already swamp and moor hens, Coots, ducks including the Pacific Black and Grey Teal, crested pigeons, dragonflies and mayflies are plentiful.

Before the flood, new species in the form of the Great Egret and the common sandpiper turned up. Mr Falconer also noticed the white faced heron and the darter bird for the first time.

“So it’s not a bad collection,” he said. In between, the Pobblebonk, Eastern Banjo, spotted grass and common brown frogs chime in to the symphony.

In recent months Mr Falconer noticed a bunch of starlings appear only to be swooped by a pair of Peregrine Falcons from Rocky Hill. It confirmed the wetland was creating its own ecosystem.

The one in 50-year rains topped the May St bank which the group had recently shored up with a stone wall, ensuring the road wasn’t undermined in flood. In places, the wetland was two metres deep.

“The recent rain showed us that most of the flooding occurs in the Wollondilly River and not the Mulwaree,” Mr Falconer said.

“It comes down and pushes water up into the Mulwaree but it was a peaceful flood.

There was no sign of water rushing things away so we didn’t have any damage here.

“It means that in dry periods, stormwater from the southwest will ensure more water is here more often, so it doesn’t dry out.”

While it’s a little smelly in places just now, the wetlands’ natural filtering effect will ensure “the nasties” are washed out. Mr Falconer and Goulburn High School students regularly monitoring water quality will gain a better picture after the area has drained slightly.

The project is designed to transform the ponds, complete with walkways and bird hides, and alter people’s perceptions of Goulburn as a dry city.

In just over a year the group has achieved much with the help of grant funding, council backing and a good dose of community spirit. Recently, Divalls Earthmoving and Bulk Haulage donated materials, labour and expertise to build the berms.

The group has poisoned woody weeds, while still maintaining their structural value for nesting birds.

The Australian Plant Society, based in Goulburn, is collecting native species to place in between.

The next stage involves talks with the state Lands Department about channelling stormwater from south Eastgrove into the wetlands.

The Goulburn Group has also applied for a state heritage grant for stage three – construction of walking tracks, bird hides and sedge meadows.

“We greatly appreciate the support of (Goulburn MP) Pru Goward who has pledged to pay for construction of one bird hides,” Mr Falconer said.

Community support will soon be harnessed in the appropriately named FROGS – Friends of Goulburn Swamplands, to be established as part of the Landcare network.

Mr Falconer says the project, to be completed over five to six years, will have a definite “Goulburn stamp.” “We’re very pleased with the work done so far,” he said.