Riverbank Rehabilitation Project
We are currently delivering the $18.46 million Riverbank Rehabilitation Project (the Project) on behalf of the NSW and Australian Government in response to the NSW Storm and High Rainfall (AGRN 960 and AGRN 954) events of February and March 2021. The Project is operating under 2 sub-project streams.
Stream 1 – targeted riverbank rehabilitation on-ground works
Local Land Services will undertake targeted riverbank rehabilitation works across the Greater Sydney, Hunter and North Coast regions. All works will be identified following a scientific prioritisation process and are focussed on the protection of high value rural agricultural, cultural and environmental natural assets.
Stream 2 – streamlined riverbank rehabilitation approvals
The project is providing direct support to flood impacted landholders through the delivery of the Riverbank Erosion Support process. This provides tailored technical advice on what landholders can do to improve and manage their riverbanks. This advice aims to strengthen the quality of the applications required for waterway approvals reducing delays in the process.
The Project has also brought together relevant stakeholders to form a Streamlined Approvals Interagency Working group, together we are working to understand the barriers to waterway approvals and identify opportunities to streamline the waterway approval processes in the future.
I’ve experienced riverbank erosion from a flood or severe weather event within the Riverbank Rehabilitation Project area, can I get assistance?
Yes, if your riverbank erosion has occurred within one of the Project’s targeted waterways, you can get support and advice through the Project.
The targeted waterways through this Project include the Hawkesbury River, Manning River, Nambucca River, Hastings River, Macleay River, Clarence River, Richmond River and their flood impacted tributaries.
The Project is providing the following support and assistance through the Riverbank Erosion Support process:
- best practice riverbank rehabilitation recommendations for landholders to undertake themselves
- education that supports managing riverbank erosion and preparing for future flood events
- assistance with navigating the waterways approvals process.
It is important to note that this is not a grant project and there is no direct financial assistance available to landholders.
To register for support, please email riverrehabproject@lls.nsw.gov.au. Please include contact details, river, land size, location and photos, including before and after (if possible), and you will be contacted by a member of the team.
Additionally, the Project also offers a number of great resources that may be of interest.
What riverbank erosion resources are available through the Riverbank Rehabilitation Project?
The Project, as well as Local Land Services more broadly, are committed to providing advice to landholders and ongoing resources and education that will allow them to make informed decisions when undertaking rehabilitation works, ensuring they are to best practice.
- Riverbank Rehabilitation Project factsheet PDF, 678.81 KB
- Riverbank Erosion Support PDF, 151.09 KB
- Managing Erosion Before and After Floods PDF, 1889.99 KB
- How should I undertake erosion work following floods? PDF, 730.04 KB
- What can I do to address riverbank erosion on my property? PDF, 694.22 KB
- Revegetation and planting tips and tricks PDF, 528.9 KB
Species selection guides
- Mid to lower Clarence riparian species selection guide PDF, 254.15 KB
- Hawkesbury catchment species selection guide PDF, 575.35 KB
- Macleay catchment riparian species selection guide PDF, 516.05 KB
- Nambucca catchment riparian species selection guide PDF, 547.6 KB
- Richmond catchment species selection guide PDF, 529.32 KB
What on-ground works will be undertaken through the Riverbank Rehabilitation Project?
The targeted riverbank rehabilitation on-ground works (stream 1) is taking a targeted approach to on-ground works with a focus on high value natural rural asset protection, with the works to build the resilience of the riverbank for future flood events and not specifically restore riverbanks to their previous state.
The Project has established a scientific impact and prioritisation panel that helped guide the development of the multi-step prioritisation process.
The prioritisation process looked at the natural rural agricultural, cultural and environmental assets that were most at risk during high flow storm events that had the highest recovery potential and alignment with the Project’s objectives.
The Project is working with the Soil Conservation Service to deliver all on-ground works, with landholders not receiving funding or grants to undertake works on their property through this Project.
All works undertaken in this project will:
- take a reach-based and targeted approach to works
- be considered best practice in riverbank management
- focus on the protection of rural, agricultural cultural and environmental asset protection
- be determined a priority by the methodology and prioritisation tools endorsed by the project’s Scientific Impact and Prioritisation Panel.
We are currently completing the prioritisation process and will publish information here on the project page about our on-ground works sites once they have been identified and contracted.
We encourage you to check back frequently for updates. We will also be working closely with landholders around the prioritised on-ground works sites to build community resilience and leverage the targeted work sites.
How do I find out more?
You can get in touch with the team by emailing riverrehabproject@lls.nsw.gov.au.
For landholders and community members wanting more information and advice on navigating approvals for riparian and in-stream works, view our riparian and in-stream works community guidelines.