Will $5million help improve the water quality of the Richmond, Evans River, Tweed, and Brunswick catchments?
The State Government’s Northern Rivers Watershed Initiative is aiming for that and will work with landholders to revegetate and undertake weed control in catchment areas.
This should improve soil health and water quality in floodplain areas, increase water filtration and storage, and work to slow water flows in catchments.
This work will begin in October across some 8220 square kilometres, covering the local government areas of Richmond Valley, Kyogle Lismore, Tweed, Byron, and Ballina.
The initiative is based on using 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.
Ms Saffin said the project is a long-term strategy to improve the water quality and general health of the Tweed, Brunswick, Richmond and Evans River catchments.
“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,” she said.
“I believe it’s in everyone’s interest – townspeople, farmers, commercial and recreational fishers – to have cleaner waterways.”
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, stabilisation 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).
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.
The information in this report was provided by the office of Janelle Saffin.
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