Environmental stakeholders and community groups from the Kiama LGA and surrounding areas gathered at Jerrara Dam on 18 August to workshop how to work with the local government not just to preserve the area, but enhance it.

Spearheaded by the Friends of Jerrara Reserve (the dam hasn’t been used for water supply in decades), the workshop was attended by a number of groups including LandCare Illawarra, WIRES, Illawarra Birders, Illawarra Bird Observers Club, Riding for the Disabled, and the Jamberoo Rural Fire Service, along with professional environmental consultants and individuals who had historical associations with the reserve and its management.

The purpose of the workshop was to discuss how the land is currently being used, and what potential uses it has when Kiama Council updates the 27-year-old management plan for the site.

Kiama Council voted on 15 August 2023 to form the Jerrara Dam Working Group, with the goal of reviewing and updating the most recent plan of management that was written in 1996, consider future uses for the site, and to consider the rehabilitation of the site to conserve and regenerate indigenous vegetation and associated habitats.

Attendees were quick to offer up the many ways they already use Jerrara, from animal conservation to simple picnics with family and a refuge to get away from the noise of the world.

A representative from Jamberoo Rural Fire Service said the organisation frequently uses Jerrara Dam for training for disaster response, and has assigned the land to set up a mobile hospital should the need ever arise. Jerrara Dam is also an important source of water for fire fighters should there be an emergency in Jamberoo or the surrounding area. This became especially important during the bushfires a few years ago, as animals used Jerrara Dam as a refuge to escape the destruction with access to fresh water.

Speaking of wildlife, the diversity of flora and fauna living at Jerrara Dam cannot be understated. There is an estimated 179 species of birds that have been spotted at the dam, as it’s a critically important layover for migratory birds. The dam has provided a source of native food for birds in WIRES’ care, and has become a favourite release site for birds that have recovered for this reason. Council has also given permission for a wombat rehabilitation compound, and has helped with establishing a wombat enclosure to treat mange.

The dam is also home to native bees and flying foxes - both important pollinators responsible for maintaining floral life in Jamberoo and the surrounding area.

There are also two threatened species that have been discovered onsite, according to LandCare Illawarra: Illawarra Zieria (Zieria granulata) and Illawarra Socket Wood (Daphnandra johnsonii).

Another stakeholder with a unique connection to Jerrara Dam is Riding for the Disabled, a volunteer organisation that provides equine activities for those with disabilities. Riding for the Disabled uses the land next to the dam to graze its horses, and if it wasn’t for this, the organisation would have to hand feed the horses over the summer, costing more time and money than Riding for the Disabled can afford.

It’s also hard to downplay the importance of Jerrara Dam on the mental health of nearby residents. Many attendees said that particularly during COVID, Jerrara Dam was a refuge for people to stretch their legs and get some fresh air among nature when they were confined to their homes. It’s also become a place for pet owners to walk their dogs and gives them a change of scenery compared to neighbourhood streets.

Participants made a handful of suggestions for infrastructure improvements they’d like to see. Suggestions included more signage and information showing people which areas they can and can’t access, along with boardwalks to take people to the edge of the wetlands. Another suggestion is an outdoor shelter facility for educational groups or other regeneration purposes. 

Given Jerrara Dam is a popular spot for picnics, attendees suggested leaving the gate at the front of the dam open during the day. The gate has been closed since vandals began using the picnic area for burnouts, so this would need to be addressed first, possibly with a security camera or some other deterrent.

By the end of the workshop, it was clear that Kiama LGA residents have a deep passion for Jerrara Dam and its conservation and revitalisation. Going forward, the Friends of Jerrara Reserve will use the results of the workshop to form a plan of action, and will continue working with Kiama Council to seek funding for the bevvy of projects that were suggested.