Project overview
The Refreshing Rivers program is delivering a range of initiatives over 10 years that will reinvigorate waterway management across NSW. The program is providing:
- new partnerships
- pathways
- incentives for action.
To drive social change leading to improved health of inland waterways sustained by industry, farmer and community action.
Project objectives
Local Land Services aims to leave a legacy of improved health of inland rivers across NSW agricultural landscapes sustained by industry, farmer and community action.
This includes:
- collaborative planning and delivery for long-term, large-scale integrated waterway management
- increased community engagement for integrated waterway management that includes growers, industry groups, eco-certification bodies, recreational users and local community action groups
- achieving waterway health by tying agricultural profit margins to waterway friendly farming.
Project background
The construction of dams and weirs, and the subsequent regulation of river flows, are a key pressure on our waterways, and multiple agencies are working to address this impact on waterway health. Waterways in the Murray-Riverina region of NSW are classed as being in poor condition.
In NSW, regulated streams make up a small proportion of all waterways and while the water arena is highly regulated, management of lands impacting on waterway health is largely in the hands of private landholders.
In NSW, agriculture is the largest land use and related land management practices can impact on waterway health. The biggest opportunity to improve waterway health across the state is through supporting landholders to adopt waterway friendly land management practices.
Project delivery
Refreshing Rivers is delivering a range of initiatives over 10 years to achieve waterway health outcomes. The program will offer:
- community-wide uptake of integrated, landscape-scale waterway management plans that identify the values, issues and potential solutions around waterway management in each target area
- outcomes supported by market-based stewardship and sustainability schemes related to waterway friendly farming practices
- case studies of innovations and technology that enable waterway friendly farming practices
- co-designed and community-led communication campaigns to encourage community, industry and land managers’ behaviours related to waterway-friendly farming
- on-ground works that directly address impacts on waterway health (for example, riparian rehabilitation, erosion management, barrier removal and pest exclusion).
Local Land Services 3 target areas are:
- Central Billabong
- Upper Billabong
- Riverina Highlands.
These areas were chosen due to the range of agricultural activities and waterway threats and assets. Approaches to improving waterway health that are successful in these target areas are likely to be effective across NSW.
Work underway
Program activities commenced in 2021.
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Funding and partnerships
This program has been funded by the New South Wales Government through its Environmental Trust River Connections program.
Partners include:
- Griffith University
- Yanco Creek and Tributaries Advisory Council (YACTAC)
- Holbrook Landcare Network
- landholders.
For more information about his project, contact:
- Miriam Crane Refreshing Rivers Project Coordinator on 0428 217 271 or miriam.crane@lls.nsw.gov.au
- Cherie White on 0427 407 126 or cherie.white@lls.nsw.gov.au
- Lili Donaldson, Refreshing Rivers Program Officer at 0456 482 816 or lili.donaldson@lls.nsw.gov.au
Contact Local Land Services NSW
Our team welcome your enquiries, feedback and comments.
Local Land Services is moving to nsw.gov.au. During the change, you might find the information you are looking for at lls.nsw.gov.au