Together with a range of stakeholders and agencies, council has contributed to the protection and enhancement of the waters of the Myall Lakes system.  In 2012, Council's acquisition of a 366-hectare property known as the Bulahdelah Plain Wetland allowed for improved catchment protection.  The acquisition was supported by the NSW Government's Estuary Grants program and Hunter Local Land Services.

The primary objective in protecting the Bulahdelah Plain Wetland focussed on enhancing water quality in the Myall Lakes system.  However, the land has also proven to be a sanctuary for plants and animals that are very rare or threatened with extinction in New South Wales.  

"As part of learning about the land to aid our long-term management, we have been compiling lists of threatened and important plants and animals," council's senior ecologist Mat Bell said.

"We know that the land contains threatened animal species such as the Black-necked Stork, Koala, Wallum Froglet, Squirrel Glider, as well as significant populations of two threatened plants.  We know it is a very special place, ecologically." 

However, the most recent wildlife discovery has excited researchers and field staff.

 “We used motion-activated wildlife cameras to monitor feral pest animals such as wild dogs and foxes and caught a few fleeting images of a small macropod.  We knew the habitat was suitable for the long-nosed potoroo and so we set some cameras with truffle oil bait," council's environment officer Peter Goonan said

Truffle oil is known as a human delicacy and is served mainly in the most expensive restaurants.  Long-nosed potoroos are attracted to truffle oil as they feed on underground fungi.  

The long-nosed potoroo is listed as vulnerable to extinction and is threatened by habitat loss and predation by feral cats and foxes.  It is quite small, at between about 0.7 and 1.5-kilograms in weight.  Although it is a macropod (related to wallabies), it looks like a bandicoot.

The strategy worked and Council captured many clear images of the long-nosed potoroo on the land.  

"One of the most exciting sequences we captured was of a mature female potoroo with a large pouch, which confirmed that breeding is occurring " said Mr Goonan.

Council is adjusting its land management to assist the protection of the long-nosed potoroo population.

"On cameras that we have recorded images of potoroos, we have also captured images of foxes.  This is very sobering, as foxes are a direct threat,” Mr Bell explained. 

"We also have evidence that feral cats occur.  We have a responsibility now to ensure that we give the potoroos the best chance of long-term survival.  By managing the land for ecological health we can protect downstream water quality as well as the biodiversity on the site."

A key element in ongoing land management will focus on controlling feral pest animals through baiting and trapping and managing bushfire.  The feral pest animal controls will have landscape benefits, including assisting neighbouring landholders to protect their stock.

Council will continue to use the motion-activated cameras on the land to monitor native and feral animals and hope that more exciting wildlife discoveries will be made in the future.  

The Myall Lakes are of immense environmental and social importance.  It is internationally-recognised for its wetland values and it is gazetted as both a Marine Park and a National Park.  However, the water of the lakes system can be impacted by catchment run-off and there has been a history of algal blooms and poor water quality conditions.