A major effort to rehabilitate almost 30 kilometres of flood-affected riverbanks across NSW has received international recognition, with Local Land Services and the Soil Conservation Service winning this year’s International Erosion Control Association Australasia (IECA Australasia) Environmental Excellence Award.
IECA Australasia represents the erosion and sediment control industry across Australia and New Zealand, with its annual awards recognising leading environmental and rehabilitation projects.
The $48.46 million Riverbank Rehabilitation Project was developed in response to severe flooding in 2021 and 2022, which caused extensive damage to riverbanks and waterways across the Hunter, Greater Sydney and North Coast regions.
Eleven catchments, including the Tweed and Richmond
Jointly funded through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), the project is protecting and improving flood-damaged riverbanks across eleven catchments, from the Tweed and Richmond rivers in the north to the Hawkesbury and Hunter.
Local Land Services led the project, with the Soil Conservation Service delivering specialist riverbank stabilisation and rehabilitation work at priority sites. It has rehabilitated 29.6 kilometres of riverbank, planted 162,886 plants to improve riparian vegetation and supported more than 800 landholders with erosion and riverbank management advice.
The project also provided farmers and land managers with practical advice on caring for waterways, navigating approvals and preparing for future flooding.
Through the Cultural Waterways Program, Local Land Services worked with First Nations communities to protect culturally significant places and manage risks to Aboriginal cultural heritage in flood-affected catchments.
Practical response
The award recognises the partnership’s practical response to widespread flood damage and its work with landholders and communities to restore waterways and improve resilience.
Local Land Services Chief Executive Officer Kate Lorrimer-Ward said, ‘Alongside the on-ground work, our teams have supported more than 800 landholders with erosion and riverbank management advice to help them recover from floods and build resilience to future events.
‘This project has delivered practical support where it was needed most, including 22.4 kilometres of fencing to keep livestock out of riparian areas and 26 alternative water sources to help protect waterways.
‘This award reflects the efforts of staff, delivery partners and landholders across all 11 catchments.’
Hard work shows what can be achieved
Soil Conservation Service Executive Director Daniel Brown said, ‘This award recognises the hard work of our teams, who have helped repair damaged riverbanks and support communities recovering from successive floods.
‘By combining the Soil Conservation Service’s specialist environmental construction skills with Local Land Services’ regional knowledge and relationships, we have delivered practical work to protect properties, restore waterways and help communities prepare for future floods.
‘This project shows what can be achieved when government, landholders and local communities work together to repair flood damage and build stronger, more resilient river systems.’
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