MORE than 400 trees have been planted near Wilsons River and Coopers Creek as part of a regional initiative to restore riverbanks, improve water quality and reduce flood risk across the Northern Rivers.<\/p>\n
The community planting was part of the Northern Rivers Watershed Initiative, which includes a range of natural flood management projects led by Rous County Council in partnership with six local councils.<\/p>\n
Projects in the initiative include riparian restoration, catchment revegetation, landscape rehydration, floodplain drainage redesign and soil health improvements.<\/p>\n
Catchment and cultural awareness manager at Rous, Antony Acret, said the work would help strengthen natural flood defences and improve river health.<\/p>\n
“Riparian restoration and catchment revegetation works will provide benefits to water quality and natural flood mitigation through reducing erosion, increasing resilience of riverbanks and acting as a natural barrier to slow the flow of floodwater across the landscape,” he said.<\/p>\n
“We are pleased to see the community turn out to help plant trees as part of the initiative and were here in support of the program.”<\/p>\n
Boatharbour Landcare and Big Scrub Rainforest Conservancy supported the planting, which is part of a broader push to improve ecosystem health and water security across the region.<\/p>\n
The Northern Rivers Joint Organisation has endorsed the program, which addresses river health and flood risk across the Tweed, Brunswick, Richmond and Evans River systems.<\/p>\n
It was originally developed through partnerships between Whian Whian Landcare, Lismore City Council’s floodplain risk management committee and Rous.<\/p>\n
Lismore MP Janelle Saffin and the Northern Rivers Joint Organisation played a key role in advocating for the initiative.<\/p>\n
“Rous County Council’s Antony Acret has engaged well with me about how the water authority will work closely with local partners from government and non-government on the ground to maximise river health and environmental benefits under a suite of projects which have a truly regional scope,” Saffin said.<\/p>\n
North Coast Local Land Services and the Casino Food Coop are also involved in the project.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MORE than 400 trees have been planted near Wilsons River and Coopers Creek as part of a regional initiative to restore riverbanks, improve water quality and reduce flood risk across the Northern Rivers. The community planting was part of the Northern Rivers Watershed Initiative, which includes a range of natural flood management projects led by […]<\/p>\n