Healthy Rivers flow with biodiversity benefits for threatened species
Over the last three years, Landcare Australia has managed a large-scale landscape restoration project with funding from the Australian Government in partnership with broadacre farmers, Fisheries NSW, Local Land Services, and OzFish to improve the natural assets of the Namoi River Catchment.
The Murray-Darling Basin covers up to 14% of Australia’s land mass and is home to over 120 native bird species and more than 50 fish species. The rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin serve as a vital water resource, but they have suffered due to previous land clearing, and extreme flooding events.
With the funding provided by the Australian Government’s Murray–Darling Healthy Rivers Program, Landcare Australia took significant steps to improve the habitat within the Namoi Catchment. Efforts include bank stabilisation works, installation of instream habitat structures, weed control in riparian zones, stock exclusion fencing, and assisted regeneration using 7,800 locally sourced native seedlings.
Local bush regenerators were engaged to assist in undertaking these works in collaboration with Tamworth Regional Landcare Association, which supported the improvement of 65 hectares of degraded floodplain, riparian, and wetland habitat within the Namoi River Catchment. Additionally, 200 individual timber pins were installed across the Wallamore Anabranch to slow flow during high rainfall events, capturing debris and sediments to protect the Anabranch from further active erosion and improve water quality.
These efforts are crucial for enhancing in-stream biodiversity by providing thermal refuge, shelter, and food sources for native aquatic species. They also provide habitat for threatened species such as Murray cod and silver perch. The Healthy Rivers project aims to provide passive and active recreational opportunities such as recreational fishing.
Quotes attributable to Dr Shane Norrish, Landcare Australia CEO
“Landcare Australia’s involvement in the Healthy Rivers project again demonstrates Landcare Australia’s ability to manage large scale landscape restoration projects. We are grateful for the funding from the Australian Government so that we can create effective partnerships that deliver on-ground landcare work with an aim to restore and protect our land and water assets. Managed by Landcare Australia, the Healthy Rivers project is a great example of how we work with a wide range of great partners to deliver projects at scale, including the great work of broadacre farmers, North West Local Land Services, Tamworth Regional Landcare Association and Fisheries NSW including NSW Fisheries Manager Milly Hobson.”
Quotes attributable to Kevin Edmonds, Former President at Gunnedah Jockey Club:
“Due to flooding over the past years, the track at the Gunnedah Jockey Club, along with the buildings, facilities, and stables, went underwater three times, resulting in severe bank erosion of the crown land adjoining the river. The bank retreated several metres because of the flooding. Now, trees have been planted, and the bank has been reestablished, transforming the area.”
Quotes attributable to Angela Baker, Senior Land Services Officer at North West Local Land Services:
“Along the Namoi River, the banks were in a terrible state, with no remnant riparian vegetation, and they were migrating further back with each flow event. We’ve stopped a significant erosion problem and now have a stabilised bank where vegetation can be reestablished, benefiting both aquatic and terrestrial species like the endangered koala.”
Quotes attributable to Harry Davey, Project Officer at OzFish:
“Local recreational fishers with OzFish began work on Goonoo Goonoo Creek in 2015, this work adds to what has already been started upstream and now has almost 10 years of restoration progress. It’s a long-term process. In the restored areas we have seen the return of fish, such as the endangered silver perch and catfish. I look forward to seeing the progress downstream here, in 10 years. OzFish is proud of the recreational fisher stewards around Tamworth caring for their local Namoi River, we need to care for these waterways to support the species populations and for better fishing into the future.”
