From farmland to fish habitat on Bilambil Creek

In a lush pocket of northern NSW, a 15-hectare stretch of Bilambil Creek is getting another chapter of its restoration story, one that’s been four decades in the making. Once degraded farmland, the site has slowly been transformed into thriving native habitat thanks to the long-term efforts of Bilambil Landcare.

Now, in partnership with Tweed Landcare and OzFish Unlimited, the legacy of improvement continues. OzFish volunteers have already planted 250 native trees and shrubs and will soon be planting more along a 1.3km section of the creek’s riparian zone, a vital area for improving water quality, protecting fish habitat, and reducing erosion.

Home to bass, flathead, and fresh ideas

Bilambil Creek isn’t just a beautiful place. It’s also an important nursery for fish species like dusky flathead and Australian bass. Restoring its riparian zone helps shade the water, lower temperatures, stabilise the river banks and provide food and shelter for native aquatic life.

Creeks like this are the lungs and arteries of the local landscape. They’re where biodiversity starts, where fish breed, and where real change happens. The current phase of restoration focuses on weed control, native tree planting, and increasing the diversity of vegetation to strengthen the entire catchment’s resilience.

A legacy of Landcare and a day in the dirt

Since 1984, Bilambil Landcare has planted over 18,600 native trees on this site, which is a phenomenal achievement that’s turned back the clock on land degradation. Their decades of care laid the foundation for the next generation of restoration efforts.

Now, OzFish is stepping in to support that legacy with a community planting day that invites locals to get their hands dirty for a good cause. These events don’t just restore creeks. They reconnect people to place and provide valuable learning opportunities about riparian restoration and fish-friendly farming.

Together for the long haul

This project is part of the long-running partnership between OzFish Unlimited and Landcare NSW, a collaboration designed to support grassroots groups and passionate volunteers in restoring fish habitat across the state. Backed by community know-how and powered by local hands, the Bilambil Creek project is proof that big results come from a long-term vision and a lot of teamwork.

Want to be part of the next chapter? Join your local OzFish team and discover how you can help restore waterways that matter.

This project is in collaboration with NSW Landcare, and Tweed Landcare, with funding from the OzFish-Landcare NSW partnership and BCF – Boating, Camping, Fishing.