The event was part of Goulburn Connects – our city’s first sustainability festival – and a timely reminder of how much progress has been made over the last two years.

Once an industrial wasteland, today it is serene, tranquil parkland with a fast recovering eco system.

“(When we started) it was a rubbish dump,” The Goulburn Group (TGG) member/Friends and Residents of Golburn Swamplands (FROGS) executive member Rodney Falconer recalled.

“We had bicycles and all sorts of things in here. We also had the worst weed bed in the Southern Tablelands. We still have a problem with weeds and will for a long time but we’ve managed to transform that into a place where now, we’ve got far more birds than ever occurred here in my memory. We’ve got greater numbers and more species; the fact we have raptors – like the whistling kite – that can live and breed here is very important because it tells us we now have a functioning eco-system.”

 Mr Falconer was proud of the progress to date, believing it was a reminder to other community groups of what was possible.

Member for Goulburn Pru Goward has long been a supporter of the initiative.

She first became interested during the drought, when it was proposed to her that the site would act as a natural filtration system for water before it flowed back in the Sydney Catchment Area. The MP was also vocal in gaining state funding.

However, her latest contribution – a bird hide named after her husband David, an avid “birdo” – came out of her own pocket.

Ms Goward hoped her donation would encourage others to do the same, donating either more bird hides or other important infrastructure, such as park benches in the future.

“I think it is going to be a wonderful place (when it’s finished),” she said, before adding it would be utilised by the entire community.

“It will give the city a new centre, a new focus… We have two amazing parks and this could be an addition.” 

Mayor Geoff Kettle also paid tribute to both TGG and FROGS for their commitment and delivery of the project. He hoped Council’s river bank projects would one day join up to the wetlands.

“It’s a fantastic project… (It) will keep developing well into the future and become a jewel in the crown, right in the centre of the city,” he said.

He also complemented TGG for putting together Goulburn Connects saying it was an important event.

“(The sustainability festival) is another great idea from TGG. I know it has attracted attention from far afield…I know quite a few local government areas are quite jealous that we have this group of people here with the know how to put something like this together...” Cr Kettle said.

“(The issue of sustainability) is very apolitical and I don’t espouse politics at all on the council floor. I don’t mind saying the jury is still out for me on climate change and global warming but I can see the benefits of sustainability, I can see the benefits of becoming cost negative on our electricity generation, I can see the benefits of alternative power, I have solar hot water on my own house and it is saving me a bucket load of money.

Council has now got solar panels on its major buildings, saving the community money; we have solar powered street lights, saving the community money; but it’s not just about saving money, it is about looking after the environment.

“Yes I am conservative; yes, I’m right wing; but this is above party politics. It is about the future of our environment and the future of world.” For a full program of upcoming Goulburn Connects events visit w w w. i g o u l b u r n . c o m / E v e n t - Calendar/Goulburn-Connects.aspx