Riverbank Vegetation Improvements Project
What Is The Riparian Restoration Project?
The Riparian Restoration Project is part of the bigger MEMS initiative focusing on improving water quality and reducing litter like nutrients and sediment loads entering waterways. North Coast Local Land Services is offering landholders and land managers support to improve the water quality of creeks, streams, gullies and rivers on or adjacent to their land in targeted areas.
The project will primarily work with macadamia growers and graziers to rehabilitate the riparian areas on their properties to mitigate against the amount of sediment and nutrients entering the waterways due to surface runoff, and the trampling of vegetation, breakdown of soil structure and contamination of the water that uncontrolled access of stock can lead to.
How Will Works Be Undertaken?
The project works collaboratively with landholders to rehabilitate and enhance the riparian zone on the property. This involves the development and implementation of a site action plan, which is developed by an environmental contractor in consultation and liaison with the landholder.
The site action plan provides practical strategies, actions and a works schedule to restore, to the best possible extent, the structure, function, integrity and dynamics of native vegetation at the project site and limit diffuse pollutants entering the riparian zone from surface runoff.
All works are funded by North Coast Local Land Services and conducted by a qualified bush regeneration company that specialises in natural resource management in the Northern Rivers areas. Maintenance of the project site is carried out by the contractor for a period of two years and then handed back to the landholder to manage. Download the factsheet PDF, 2381.58 KB for more information about the Riparian Restoration Project or contact Gen Maley, Land Services Officer, on 0428 394 948 or email mems@lls.nsw.gov.au.
Case studies
The Riparian Rehabilitation Projects are currently underway, with some great outcomes being achieved by primary producers, as highlighted in these case studies:
How Can You Be Involved In The North Coast
Local Land Services is offering landholders and land managers support to improve the water quality of creeks, streams, gullies and rivers on or adjacent to their land in targeted areas.
Are you concerned about the amount of soil and sediment being lost from your property because of surface runoff or the quality of your water being impacted by your stock?
We are calling for expressions of interest from landholders and land managers along targeted waterways in the Richmond River Catchment to undertake works to improve water quality.
Riparian/Estuarine Revegetation:
Establishing Natural Filters:
- Establish vegetated buffer zones to naturally filter water runoff from surrounding land.
- Enhance the ecological function of the riparian area through strategic weed control measures.
Riparian/Estuarine Fencing:
Protecting Riverbank Vegetation:
- Install fencing to exclude stock from waterways to maintain and enhance the integrity of riparian and estuarine ecosystems.
Enhanced Land Management:
Implementing sustainable farm practice
- Stock water point installation in conjunction with riparian/estuarine fencing to provide alternative water sources.
- Empowering landholders to actively participate in the long-term health of their land and surrounding water bodies.
Benefits of the project:
- vegetation stabilises riverbanks, enhancing resilience during flood events
- increased biodiversity of flora and fauna on the land.
- creation of functional wildlife corridors, promoting ecological connectivity.
- improved cattle health
- reduction of weed load on the property.