Three riverbank restoration projects in the lower Manning and Wallamba rivers will see 750 metres of eroding riverbank restored, the replanting of 1500 native species and the protection of three hectares of mangrove and saltmarsh habitat.
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The projects will be undertaken in partnership between local landholders, MidCoast Council and NSW Department of Primary Industries.
The project on the Wallamba River will involve an "innovative" new method of riverbank stabilisation using reclaimed oyster shells from Wallis Lake to give the river potential to develop into a fully functioning oyster reef, said council's sustainability and natural assets coordinator, Tanya Cross.
"Council has been successful in securing more than $113,110 in funding from the NSW Department of Primary Industries through its Recreational Fishing Trust Habitat Action Grants for the three projects."
In addition to the grants, council is contributing $71,870 from its environmental levy, and the participating landholders are also making cash and in-kind contributions, Ms Cross said.
"The impacts of land clearing, grazing cattle and boat wash cause both riverbank erosion and sedimentation of the estuary, and have been a serious problem for many years," she said.
"Excessive sediment can smother seagrass beds and produce cloudy water which is detrimental to fish habitat and this has been particularly evident following the recent flood event.
"Rock and timber fillets, which are barriers constructed in front of the eroding banks, will protect the riverbank from wind and wave action and encourage the re-establishment of mangroves and saltmarsh, while riparian fencing will be erected to prevent stock from accessing the riverbank," Ms Cross said.
"This project will complement extensive works already undertaken by council in the Wallamba River. To date, more than 11 kilometres of riverbank has been stabilised since the adoption of the Lower Wallamba River Rivercare Plan in 2003.
"OzFish has also been successful in gaining $27,800 in funding for a project on the lower Lansdowne River, which is being undertaken in partnership with council, Hunter Local Land Services and a local landholder," Ms Cross said.
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