Current view: Text account
Site description (2008 baseline):
Site location and context
This IBA combines ephemerally flooded lower floodplain wetlands with swamp forests used by Swift Parrots and Regent Honeyeaters. It is bounded to the south by the Camden Haven River, west to the Pacific Highway, then north along the Pacific Highway north of Kempsey to Barraganyatti and across to the coast at Stuart's Point. This includes the lower floodplain of the Belmore and Macleay Rivers between Kempsey and Gladstone, a series of wetlands along the Belmore River including the Seals Road swamp, Rainbow beach, Jerseyville wetlands and the Swan Pool at Kinchela, the coastal forests of Maria River, Laurieton, Lake Cathie and trees in the towns of Port Macquarie, Kempsey and South West Rocks. Wetlands that appear suitable for Australasian Bittern include Limeburners Creek NR (extensive reed swamps, lake and wet heathlands), Pelican Island (reed swamp), Belmore Swamp (extensive wetlands, reed & paperbark swamps), Swan Pool HHNP (extensive reed and paperbark swamps) and the Maria River wetlands (reed and paperbark swamps). In wet years, the reedbeds and wetlands extend from the Hastings River north along the Maria River, behind Crescent head north to Ryans Cut and into Belmore Swamp, then along the Belmore River into Kinchela Creek and the Swan Pool, and north to the Macleay River wetlands and South West Rocks. The forests used by Swift Parrots are those dominated by Swamp Mahogany in wetlands and adjacent Forest Red Gums. Otherwise, the area is mostly cattle-grazed with large blocks of native hardwoods State Forest, protected areas and areas of tea-tree plantation.
Also supports thousands of Black Swans (including 1000 at Belmore Swamp alone on 30/6/05 and 5/3-12/4/2007 and at Camden Haven and Lake Cathy/Innes), up to 1000 Black-winged Stilt, possibly thousands of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers (counts of 780 on Lower Macleay wetlands 28/10-6/11/03; 1250 at Pelican Island (Jerseyville) 9-12/12/06, 800 at Pelican Island (Jerseyville) and 300 at Rainbow Reach 1/1-14/4/2007), up to 3000 Grey Teal (at Seale Rd Swamp, part of Belmore Swamp 25/8-2/12/2006), up to 1000 Chestnut Teal (Camden Haven estuary), small numbers of nesting Black-necked Storks, Brolgas, Bush Stone-curlews, Little Terns, Glossy Black-Cockatoos and Grass Owls, high densities, perhaps 10 pairs, of Square-tailed Kites, and small or infrequent numbers of Australian Painted Snipe, Australian Little Bittern, Paradise Riflebird, Regent Bowerbird, Green Catbird, Logrunner and Pale-yellow Robin (A. Morris pers. comm. 2007; Atlas of Australian Birds database).
Non-bird biodiversity: Important population of koalas for NSW.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Ensure that residential and industrial development makes allowance for the conservation of swamp mahogany and forest red gum forests. Prevent drainage on acid-sulphate soils and subsequent acid-sulphate leaching into waterways.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
High tide roost of shorebirds and nesting site of Little Terns at Pelican island (Port Macquarie) on Hastings estuary is actively managed.
Numerous - see separate section for details.
State Forest, State protected areas, freehold and leasehold properties.
Thanks to Alan Morris for compiling the nomination and to the following for their assistance:- Ken Shingleton, South West Rocks; Hastings Bird Observers Club; Macleay Valley Bird Observers; and Tim Morris, Clive Meadows and Tony Bischoff, resident birders in Port Macquarie.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Hastings-Macleay (Australia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/hastings-macleay-iba-australia on 23/11/2024.
