The Northern Rivers Watershed Initiative (NRWI) is well underway with projects coming online across the region in riparian restoration and catchment revegetation, landscape rehydration, redesigned floodplain drainage and soil health improvements.

A community planting took place last Friday (May 2) to help plant 400 rainforest trees near the confluence of the Wilsons River and Coopers Creek, in close proximity to the Boatharbour Nature Reserve.

The event was attended by Boatharbour Landcare, Big Scrub Rainforest Conservancy, Rous staff, including Phillip Rudd, General Manager, and members of Rous’ governing body, Cr Steve Krieg and Cr Eva Ramsey.

Anthony Acret, Catchment and Cultural Awareness Manager at Rous, noted the importance of riparian restoration as part of the NRWI.

Riparian restoration and catchment revegetation works will provide benefits to water quality and natural flood mitigation through reducing erosion, increasing resilience of riverbanks and acting as a natural barrier to slow the flow of floodwater across the landscape,” said Anthony Acret.

“We are pleased to see the community turn out to help plant trees as part of the initiative and here in support of the program.”

The NRWI highlights the valuable collaboration between councils and organisations across the Northern Rivers, all working together toward shared goals, according to Phillip Rudd, General Manager, Rous.

“The Boatharbour planting day emphasises our community’s support for the NRWI and the long-term benefits that natural restoration projects can bring to our region’s ecosystems and river systems,” said Phillip Rudd.

“Speaking on behalf of the NRWI partners, we are grateful for the $5M grant from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, championed by Janelle Saffin MP, to launch the NRWI over two years.”

Originally designed as a $150 million project across the region, the NRWI is a catchment and estuary restoration program endorsed by the Northern Rivers Joint Organisation (NRJO) to address ecosystem health, water security and flood risk issues across the Tweed, Brunswick, Richmond and Evans River systems.

The NRWI was originally created through partnerships between Whian Whian Landcare, Lismore City Council's Floodplain Risk Management Committee and Rous. The Northern Rivers Joint Organisation and Lismore MP Janelle Saffin were integral in advocating for the NRWI, which is being led by Rous in partnership with six local councils (Ballina Shire Council, Byron Shire Council, Kyogle Council, Lismore City Council, Richmond Valley Council and Tweed Shire Council), North Coast Local Land Services and the Casino Food Coop.

About Rous County Council

Rous is an organisation of experts and advisors supplying the Northern Rivers with water, weed biosecurity, and rural flood mitigation.

• Water: Rous sources, stores, treats and supplies water to the Ballina, Byron, Lismore and Richmond Valley councils. These councils then on-sell this water to their communities. Rous is proud to provide high-quality drinking water to approximately 110,000 people in the region.
• Weed biosecurity: Rous protects the region’s biodiversity by managing and eradicating high-risk weed species. We work closely with communities and councils in Ballina, Byron, Lismore, Richmond Valley, Kyogle and Tweed Shire regions.
• Rural flood mitigation: Rous manages the rural flood mitigation for the Richmond River floodplain. This includes monitoring and managing an 80km network of levees, 750 floodgates, and 180km of drains to reduce inundation and divert flood waters.