Latham's Snipe is one such bird, weighing in at just 250g it flies 7000km in three days from Japan to the east coast of Australia. It can be seen at Panboola Wetlands, where patches of grass near the water's edge are deliberately left unmowed because that is how Latham's Snipe like it.

Keen local bird watcher, Barbara Jones recorded her first Snipe at Panboola in October 2000 and they have been coming back ever since.

They are a bird which literally has eyes in the back of its head. Their eyes are set so far back on their heads that they can see behind them as well as in front, without moving.

Latham's Snipe is protected under the migatory bird agreements between the Australian government and a number of other countries including Japan. The agreement places an onus on signatory governments to conserve populations and protect habitats.

Panboola is also home to 29 listed species of flora and fauna including threatened or migatory birds such as the Common Green Shank and the Glossy Ibis.

This makes Panboola Wetlands home to Matters of National Environmental Significance. These are listed threatened species and ecological communities, including migatory species protected under international agreements.

It is something that Michelle Richmond project co-ordinator at Panboola, raised during the online meeting with the Southern Regional Planning Panel over the DA for the demolition of the nearby Royal Willows Hotel and construction of a supermarket in its place.

Under the terms of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, anyone proposing any activity which could affect Matters of National Environmental Significance, should submit a referral to the Australian government Department of the Environment for a decision by the Environment Minister on whether assessment and approval is required.

The EPBC Act makes sure that 'nationally significant' animals, plants, habitats and places are identified, and any potential negative impacts on them are carefully considered before changes in land use or new developments are approved.

Ms Richmond is concerned that run off from increased hard surfaces near the valuable wetlands both during and following the proposed supermarket development in Pambula could have a negative impact. She believes it is an activity which could affect the wetlands and therefore Matters of Environmental Significance which would mean it would be a decision for the federal Department of the Environment.

Ms Richmond also wants Panboola to get a Ramsar listing which would make it a site of international significance.

The Ramsar Convention encourages the designation of sites containing representative, rare or unique wetlands, or wetlands that are important for conserving biological diversity.

Once designated, these sites are added to the Convention's List of Wetlands of International Importance and become known as Ramsar sites.

In designating a wetland as a Ramsar site, countries agree to establish and oversee a management framework aimed at conserving the wetland and ensuring its wise use. Wise use is broadly defined as maintaining the ecological character of a wetland.

"We're going through the process now to see if we can get listed. I don't think there's been a Ramsar site listed in NSW for about 10 years," Ms Richmond said.

It is not expected to be a quick process as a lot of supporting material must be submitted for the listing.

In the meantime though Panboola continues to grow in popularity with an estimated 50,000 visitors a year. To help those visitors explore, particularly around the old race course area, there are been an upgrade to the surface.

The race course is on Crown Land but Panboola is the manager and was given $252,000 to upgrade the surface.

Using diamong grid, with gravel infill, the race course is now a 2.7m wide path for its 1.7km circuit, making it more accessible and easier for bikes, pushchairs and people to safety pass each other on the popular walking and cycling track.

Now Ms Richmond has her sights set on a wetlands community centre which would be an educational centre as well as serving as a community meting space.

She is well supported in the work of Panboola by an enviable supply of dedicated volunteers, eager to mow, plant, fix fences and pull out weeds.

"This is about rebuilding social capital at the entrance to Panboola," Ms Richmond said.