The NSW government says it has delivered on its $5 million election promise to help develop high-priority, shovel-ready projects to improve water quality of the Tweed, Brunswick, Richmond and Evans river catchments.
The Northern Rivers Watershed Initiative will work with landholders to revegetate and undertake weed control in catchment areas, improve soil health, address water quality in floodplain areas, increase water filtration and storage, and work to slow water flows in catchments.
Works, which are set to commence in October 2024 will be undertaken across some 8,220 square kilometres, covering the Local Government Areas of, Lismore City Council, Richmond Valley Council, and Kyogle, Tweed, Byron, and Ballina Shire Councils.
The initiative is based on the application of a range of natural flood management techniques across the Northern Rivers that can work to restore or mimic the natural functions of the rivers, floodplains and the wider catchments to help reduce flooding and generate a range of water quality and catchment health benefits.
Key projects to be undertaken as part of the Watershed Initiative include:
- Working with macadamia farmers in the Emigrant and Maguires Creek catchments on orchard floor management, water sensitive drainage and soil stabilisation ($0.5M).
Strategic improvements in waterway condition to establish self-sustaining vegetated buffer zones that generate water quality and ecological benefits – this will feature weed removal, off-stream water, cattle exclusion, fencing, stabilization of riverbanks and planting of 100,000 trees across the region ($2.5M). - Redesigned floodplain drainage to meet contemporary standards – working with landholders to conduct on-ground works within Keith Hall drainage system, South Ballina, minimising environmental impacts from floodplain drainage infrastructure whilst maintaining levels of service ($1.5M).
- Landscape hydration program: using natural flood management techniques to slow flows, retain soil fertility, and reduce runoff in rural catchments ($0.5M).
Partnership
The project is a partnership between Rous County Council, Lismore City Council, Richmond Valley Council, and Kyogle, Tweed, Byron, and Ballina Shire Councils, North Coast Local Land Services and the Northern Co-operative Meat Company.
Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said, ‘Our regional and rural rivers are beautiful yet fragile ecosytems and the Northern Rivers region is prone to drought followed by severe and frequent flooding events, like those we have seen in recent years.
‘This intiative will help the region to respond to the effects of drought and flood by improving the resillience of the landscape and the health of waterways.
‘This is about restoring our Northern Rivers, bringing them back, as far as possible, to their natural state,’ she said.
State Member for Lismore and NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery Janelle Saffin said, ‘I am proud to be delivering on one of the NSW government’s key election commitments – $5 million for high-priority, shovel-ready projects to kickstart the Northern Rivers Joint Organisation’s Watershed Initiative.
‘This is a long-term strategy aimed at improving water quality and general health of the Tweed, Brunswick, Richmond and Evans River catchments,’ said Ms Saffin.
‘Water quality of some of our rivers has been tested as being of poor or very poor quality so shifting the dial on that is a high priority for me and I believe it’s in everyone’s interest – townspeople, farmers, commercial and recreational fishers – to have cleaner waterways.
‘Rous County Council’s Catchment & Cultural Awareness Manager Anthony Acret has engaged well with me about how the water authority will work closely with local partners from government and non-government on the ground to maximise river health and environmental benefits under a suite of projects which have a truly regional scope.
‘In lobbying I just didn’t look at my electorate in isolation; I went in to bat for the entire Northern Rivers because river catchments don’t follow electoral boundaries. I hope this is only the start of deeper work to restore river health across the region.’
General Manager of Rous County Council Phillip Rudd said, ‘The Northern Rivers Watershed Initiative is an overarching strategy that involves investment in catchment works in upper catchment areas that aim to restore natural hydrologic functions that deliver both improvements in stream bank condition and river health.
‘The project will involve implementation of coastal zone management actions to address high priority estuarine health issues.
‘We look forward to working with our local councils, North Coast Local Land Services and the Northern Co-operative Meat Company to implement this initial series of projects within the Tweed, Brunswick, Richmond and Evans River catchments,’ said Mr Rudd.
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