For the past three years Central Coast Council have been working with the University of Newcastle (UoN) to conduct research on the remnant population of threatened Green and Golden Bell Frogs (Littoria aurea) at Bareena Wetland, North Avoca. This work has been funded through the Australian Government’s Environmental Restoration Fund (ERF).
Once widely distributed all along the NSW coastline Green and Golden Bell Frog (GGBF) populations have dramatically decreased due to a range of threats including the deadly Chytrid fungus, to a point where only a few remnant populations remain, including the one at Bareena Wetland.
As part of this project, funding was set aside to create permanent additional habitat to assist this GGBF population, particularly during periods when Bareena Wetland dries out when water levels in Avoca Lagoon are low.
In 2019, Bareena Wetland completely dried up during the breeding season, resulting in a mass loss of tadpoles within the wetland. Following this event Council put in place a salvage protocol which authorises Council to catch and relocate GGBF tadpoles before the wetland completely dries to prevent such an event from reoccurring. The construction of a pond near the wetland will provide an ideal place for tadpole relocation and serve as additional potential breeding habitat during prolonged dry periods, helping this threatened species to continue to thrive at Avoca Lagoon.
This project has provided a great opportunity for Council staff to be involved in all aspects of the design and construction of a frog pond at the site.
Construction of the pond began in mid-March and quickly took shape using local sandstone that fits in nicely with the local environment. Plants suitable for frog habitat were planted in and around the pond and this further helps the pond blend into the lagoon foreshore as well as providing optimal habitat for the frogs to shelter. A stainless-steel cover was expertly designed, fabricated, and installed to reduce the predation of any frogs and tadpoles in the pond and also to reduce any likelihood of vandalism.
Finally, to top it off, educational signage beautifully designed by a local artist has been installed throughout the site to shed light on the plight of the GGBF, the research that is taking place at the wetland, and the purpose of the constructed pond.
This project is an excellent example of collaboration that has produced great environmental, educational, and social outcomes for the local community at North Avoca and all visitors to the wetland. We encourage everyone to check out the constructed pond and educational signage next time you’re in the area.
If you’d like to learn more about GGBFs or assist in the research led by UoN, keep your eye out for the monthly spotlight events when they start back up in late Spring. There is also an iNaturalist page for Central Coast Bell Frogs, so if you happen to come across a Bell frog, take a picture using your phone and this can easily be uploaded to the page, providing useful data on the distribution of Bell frogs across the Central Coast.
This article was written by Ben Cuerel, Estuary Management Officer and Warren Brown, Senior Estuary Management Officer