20,000 volunteer hours help transform former Cairns sugar cane farm into Cattana Wetlands

Thousands of volunteer hours have transformed what was once a working farm covered in sugar cane into an important nature conservation reserve - the Cattana Wetlands.

Over the past decade the Jabirus, part of Council’s Green Space Our Place volunteer program, have invested 20,000 hours to tackle weeds, plant thousands of trees and shrubs, install nesting boxes for possums and beautify the area.

Cattana Wetlands started out as a sugar cane farm and sand mining quarry and has since been rehabilitated to form an enjoyable 80 hectare nature conservation park with a 420metre boardwalk through feather palm forest, freshwater and salt water lakes and abundant plant and birdlife.

Located on Dunne Road, Smithfield, about 20km from the Cairns CBD, the site was originally a sugarcane farm owned by Franco Cattana, also used as a sand mining quarry resulting in several fresh and saltwater man-made lakes.

The land was purchased by the then Mulgrave Shire Council in 1993, primarily to protect the 30 hectares of lowland rainforest on the western end of the site. This forest, described as the Feather Palm Forest, is a remnant of a once extensive forest type that is now confined to only a few remnant patches in the Cairns region.

In addition to the amazing wetland habitat, Cattana Wetlands also harbours an impressive range of north Queensland wildlife and significant plant communities.

Cairns Regional Council Mayor Bob Manning said Cattana Wetlands has gone from strength-to-strength since the site was purchased by the former Mulgrave Shire Council in 1993.

“Our predecessor council had the foresight to purchase the Cattana area to preserve 30 hectares of lowland rainforest,” Mayor Manning shared.

“Through investment by Council, the State Government, Treeforce and the amazing Jabirus, Cattana Wetlands has been rehabilitated to not only protect the Feather Palm Forest but the many birds and native wildlife that have made the site their home.

“With its lakes, shaded boardwalk and interpretative signage, Cattana Wetlands is also the perfect sanctuary for humans wanting to connect with nature, right on their doorstep.”

Residents can find out more about the history, flora and fauna of the wetlands at an Open Day this Saturday 5th August.

The Cattana Wetlands Open Day, from 8am to noon, doubles as a celebration of 10 years of the Jabirus volunteer group.

The Open Day will include:

• Botany For Kids: 8.30am to 9.10am

• Boardwalk tours: 9.30am to 10.10am; and 11am to 11.40am

• Birdspotting from the jetty: 8.30am to 9.10am; and 9.30am to 10.10am

• Possum boxes: 8.30am to 9.10am; and 9.30am to 10.10am

• Plant Doctor: have all your native plant questions answered, all morning.

Cattana Wetlands, on Dunne Road, Smithfield, is a nature conservation reserve. Dogs, except registered assistance animals, are not permitted.