$64 million for priority riparian repair work

Waterways and estuaries including creeks, rivers and wetlands impacted by last year’s floods will be regenerated and protected from future disasters through a Riparian Stabilisation Package.

The $64 million package from the Albanese and Minns governments targets riparian land that pose a significant threat to public safety, assets and the environment due to damage caused by flooding in early 2022 (AGRN 1012).

The package will be delivered at critical sites in the Clarence, Hastings, Hawkesbury Richmond, Macleay, Manning, Nambucca, Tweed and Wilson River systems.

The package will also help landholders and others who manage and use the areas to understand how to more effectively reduce the impacts of future disasters and dedicate resources to monitor water quality in the long-term.

Jointly funded under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), works will be delivered by the Department of Regional NSW, the NSW Department of Primary Industries, Local Land Services and the NSW Environment Protection Authority.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt said the recovery works were critical to preserve the unique and diverse nature of the waterways.

"Riparian areas and estuaries are often some of the most fertile parts of the landscape, playing a crucial role in habitat viability for plants and animals," Minister Watt said.

"This joint investment will allow local farmers to water their stock, tourism operators to show travellers the strong cultural heritage and environmental value of these areas, and the local anglers to get back to fishing."

NSW Minister for Agriculture and Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said healthy riparian areas are critical to maintaining bank stability, supporting clean waterways and reducing the risk of pest and disease movement.

"The flood events in early 2022 caused significant river and estuarine erosion, which has put farmland, cultural sites, estuarine habitats and access roads at risk," Ms Moriarty said.

"This package will support the restoration of priority riparian and estuarine areas through activities such as improving fish habitats, bank stabilisation works and regeneration activities."

The package will be delivered through the jointly funded $29 million Estuarine Asset Protection Program, the $30 million Riverbank Rehabilitation Program and the $5 million Water Quality Monitoring Program.

NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the initiative is reflective of a cross-government commitment to disaster recovery.

"The NSW Government works to make sure assistance through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements complements and incentivises resilience, so communities are better placed to mitigate future disaster and recover more quickly," Mr Scully said.

Get more information on riparian support.