Clutha Matau Wetlands

Description: Clutha Matau Wetlands.

Type/Class: Swamp. 2

Size: 20.9 ha.

Altitude: 0 - 20 m above sea level.

Approximate location: Mouth of Clutha River/Mata-Au, adjacent to the Matau (northern) branch of the river, Centre Road, Inch Clutha | NZTM (centre point): E1355530 N4865460.

Regional Plan: Water for Otago | Schedule 9 Regionally Significant Wetland, no.28, Map F37.

Territorial Authority: Clutha District Council.

 

Interactive map of Clutha Matau Wetlands

Recorded Values

Value Description
A1 Habitat for nationally or internationally rare or threatened species or communities. Presence of threatened Banded Dotterel (Charadrius bicinctus bicinctus). 1
A4 High degree of wetland naturalness.
A5 Scarce in Otago in terms of its ecological or physical character. Less than 15% of swamps and marshes remain in Otago. 2
A8 Regionally significant wetland habitat for waterfowl. An important loafing, roosting and feeding area for a variety of waders (e.g. Banded Dotterel (Charadrius bicinctus bicinctus), Pied Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) and Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)) and waterfowl (Grey Teal (Anas gracilis) and Shoveller). 1
A2, A3, A7, A9 No relevant information is currently held by the ORC.

Other Information

  • Clutha Matau Wetlands is adjacent to the coastal marine area, which is covered by the Regional Plan: Coast for Otago.

 

Clutha Matau Wetlands (2000)

 

 

Aerial View of Clutha Matau Wetlands (March 2006)

 

References

1 Otago Regional Council (2004) Regional Plan: Water for Otago. Published by the Otago Regional Council, Dunedin.

2 Ausseil, A.G., Newsome, P., Johnson, P. (2008) Wetland Mapping in the Otago Region. Landcare Research Contract Report prepared for the Otago Regional Council.

51 Otago Regional Council – Photo Archive.