Metropolitan and regional residents and landholders in western NSW have shown they have a significant interest in preserving one of the State's most fragile wetland environments.

The results of a recent study Options for the Macquarie Marshes -A Community Survey, conducted by Charles Sturt University environmental economist Dr Mark Morrison, show an overall willingness of both city and country residents to pay to improve the quality of the wetland area.

Sydney residents were surveyed in the first stage of the study in 1997. Regional residents in the Macquarie Valley area were included in the survey in 1999, and came from Oberon, Bathurst, Orange, Mudgee, Wellington, Dubbo, Narromine, Trangie, Warren, Coonamble, Gilgandra and Manildra.

The survey offered a number of hypothetical options such as willingness to pay a levy to improve wetland area, preserve protected species and to preserve irrigation related employment.

Dr Morrison said while overall respondents showed they were willing to pay in some way for the environmental improvements to the area, there were differences in the options chosen by city and regional residents.

"Respondents in the Macquarie Valley were prepared to pay more to improve wetland quality and preserve irrigation related employment than their city counterparts. Respondents in the country were willing to pay slightly more than city residents to protect endangered and protected waterbird species."

Dr Morrison said the relatively high response rate from the mail out survey also indicates that there is concern in the community about improving the environment.

"We had about a 50 percent response rate to the questionnaire which is very good for this type of survey. Our results also showed that almost 90 per cent of respondents had heard of the Macquarie Marshes and more than 80 per cent showed they were either very or moderately interested in issues involving the area."

The study was funded by the Macquarie Marshes Catchment Committee, Charles Sturt University, Macquarie River Food and Fibre, the Macquarie Marshes Environmental Landholders Association and supported by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.