Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
Key
site specific
region wide
Work to bring rivers back to life
Healthy vegetation beside Wheeny Creek
Paul and Kirsty Reynolds (property owners) placing tree guard over seedling
Red Cedar
A riverside block can be a landowner's dream. But for many the dream has gone sour as erosion, pollution and weeds puts pressure on our waterways.
Sometimes isolated efforts aren't enough, so the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority (CMA) has begun a catchment-wide River Restoration Project that has regional landholders bringing their creeks and rivers back to life.
The project helps people restore their patch by providing advice on riverbank management plans along with financial support for practical steps like replanting, weed control and fencing.
Funding
Work was funded by the Australian and New South Wales Governments, with just over $1 million going towards the effort. The funds were also boosted by cash and in-kind contributions from landholders.
Over the past six years more than 450 landholders have been involved in the Hawkesbury Lower Nepean catchment alone.
Activities
Marian Phelan and her husband Peter have 400 metres of riverfront on their 16-hectare property near Windsor on the Colo River. They got involved in the project three years ago.
"When we first came here we thought 'green' was good," Marian said. "But then we realised what we were looking at were exotics like lantana, bamboo and tung oil tree.
"We got really good information and advice and gained practical help from volunteers. It got us started and gave us the impetus to go on.
"Now we have no privet, no bamboo and no lantana and we have manageable saplings, rather than a forest of Tree of Heaven!"
Paul and Kirsty Reynolds have eight hectares where the Colo River and Wheeny Creek meet. They contacted the CMA after a year of attempting to haul the curtains of morning glory vine off their trees with little success.
"We had been very disheartened and it was just so good to learn we weren't facing the end of the world," Paul said.
With information and grants through the project they were able to get rid of the morning glory vine.
Achievements
One of the big benefits has been the way the regeneration process has spread.
"There's a real awareness now among landholders up-river of what we need to do to care for our rivers," Paul said.
CMA figures for just one year back-up this transformation:
- 132 new project sites;
- 390 hectares of riverbank being restored; and
- More than 53,000 native trees planted on riverbanks.
More information
- Paul Bennett, Hawkesbury Nepean CMA Windsor: (02) 4587 5518
See also
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