The CSIRO report on flood mitigation in the Richmond River was released in June to enthusiastic proclamations from Lismore business leaders. ‘We must act without delay!’ they urged. ‘The science has spoken!’

It's the final week of Richmond RiverFest, with events from Ballina to Lismore, and the upper catchment to the coast.

The Richmond River will comes alive with a month-long celebration of culture, community, and Country as Ballina will celebrate Richmond RiverFest 2026 from September 27 to October 24.

Following last week's announcement by the NSW government of a new Richmond River Coordinator, a gathering at Swan Bay heard from Julie McLellan, CEO of Healthy Land & Water, southeast Queensland's natural resource management organisation, about the practicalities of restoring rivers.

A major regional effort to manage a highly invasive weed has been completed across the Far North Coast, says Rous County Council (Rous), "marking an important step forward in protecting local agriculture and the environment".  

The Richmond River upper catchment is currently sitting on a C- in the Richmond River Ecological Health Report Card. It's not a number we can accept without doing something about it.

Richmond River champions Graeme Gibson and Steve Posselt have written an open letter to Kyogle and Richmond Valley Councils, urging action to protect the river.

Rous County Council has partnered with leading researchers from Griffith University to map critical areas of erosion following the 2022 floods, as part of a long-term strategy to improve the health of the Richmond River.

A renewed push to establish a Richmond River Commission has been backed by Rous County Council (RCC), with RCC councillors voting overwhelmingly to lobby the NSW government for stronger action to restore the health of the region’s major waterway.

As the health of the river steadily worsens, Richmond Landcare Incorporated is supporting the call for a Richmond River Commissioner.