One of South Australia's premier bird-watching wetlands has re-opened to the public after a $7.6 million habitat-improvement program.
Tolderol Game Reserve, part of the Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Wetland Ramsar site, is a rich foraging habitat for waterbirds, including migratory shorebirds.
Jointly funded by the State and Federal governments as part of the Healthy Coorong, Healthy Basin program, the wetland restoration project began in January 2025 and has increased the site’s managed wetland by 60 per cent, or approximately 50ha.
The wetlands, located on the northern banks of Lake Alexandrina, now boast 150ha of foraging habitat for migratory and non-migratory shorebirds for the majority of the shorebird season, which typically runs from September to March.
Previous water management facilities at the site restricted how water was distributed throughout the reserve, reducing habitat availability.
The installation of new pump infrastructure and supporting earthworks have improved water management to enable water to be delivered more evenly and efficiently across the reserve.
The project was delivered by the SA Department of Environment and Water in collaboration with Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation, Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board, National Parks and Wildlife Service SA, and the local volunteer-run Tolderol Wetlands Working Group, which has a long history of site management and stewardship of Tolderol.
Department for Environment and Water Healthy Coorong, Healthy Basin program leader Tom Overall said the completion of the works was another crucial step to supporting shorebird species in the Coorong region.
"Tolderol is an important refuge for a wide variety of migratory and non-migratory shorebirds species," Mr Overall said.
"Restoring wetland habitat at Tolderol is not only important in enhancing the ecological health of the reserve and resilience in the wider Coorong region, but it can also play a role in reversing the decline of shorebird habitat globally.
"We’re pleased that the site is re-opening and we’re looking forward to both visitors and shorebirds flocking to the reserve in the coming seasons."
For more information, visit Healthy Coorong, Healthy Basin. For Tolderol visitor information please visit the National Parks and Wildlife SA.
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