North Coast Local Land Services is continuing to make improvements to the water quality and the local environment at the Richmond River following the completion of the latest round of riparian rehabilitation works.

The works, which are designed to prevent sediment and nutrients from entering the Richmond River from the Emigrant Creek Catchment area, are providing many benefits for the local environment and communities according to Genevieve Maley, Land Services Officer with North Coast Local Land Services.

“Healthy functioning riparian zones play a key role in water quality by trapping and filtering sediments and nutrients,” Ms Maley said.

“Riparian vegetation also helps stabilise banks to protect against erosion and provides vital habitat and food sources for our local fauna.

“By undertaking and completing these on-ground works, there are many benefits to the immediate area and water source, as well as many flow-on benefits.”

Over the 2021-22 financial year, North Coast Local Land Services delivered 6.39 kilometres of riparian rehabilitation works along Pearces Creek, which makes the total footprint of this project over 40 kilometres since 2019.

Additionally, over the past four years, more than 55,000 subtropical rainforest species have been planted across 70 hectares on 45 sites in the Alstonville Plateau.

Works through the riparian rehabilitation project have included bush regeneration, stock exclusion and revegetation actions.

This project is part of the NSW Government funded Marine Estate Management Strategy which aims to increase water quality and improve the natural environment.

For further information on the Marine Estate Management Strategy, visit www.lls.nsw.gov.au/mems.

This article appeared in the Dunoon and District Gazette, October-November 2022.