Cattana Wetlands is hosting an open day on Saturday

Discover how a former sugar cane farm turned sand quarry became a stunning natural oasis at the Cattana Wetlands Open Day.

Councillor (Division 8) Rhonda Coghlan and Jabiru Volunteer Geoff McClure at the Cattana Wetlands Environmental Park

Discover how a former sugar cane farm turned sand quarry became a stunning natural oasis at the Cattana Wetlands Open Day this Saturday.

Tucked away on Dunne Rd in Smithfield are the Cattana wetlands, an 80-hectare nature reserve which boasts a unique collection of plants and animals, including sugar gliders, amethystine pythons and 207 bird species.

Councillor (Division 8) Rhonda Coghlan and Jabiru Volunteer Geoff McClure walking at the Cattana Wetlands Environmental Park

The wetlands have been transformed thanks to the dedicated Jabirus volunteer group, who have spent thousands of hours maintaining the land and clearing invasive and harmful weeds.

Division 8 Councillor Rhonda Coghlan said the reserve was one of Cairns’ “best kept secrets” and hopes the weekend’s event will entice more local residents to the area.

Mayor Bob Manning said the park “has gone from strength-to-strength” since it was taken over in 1993.

“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,” Mr Manning said.

Family friendly activities, including boardwalk tours, bird spotting, visiting possum boxes, and botany for kids, will run from 8am to noon and there will be a selection of cakes and baked treats, and even a plant doctor to answer all your native plant questions on offer.

Originally published as Cattana Wetlands is hosting an open day on Saturday