Planning for ecological resilience: Restoring the Namoi River

After the devastating floods of 2023, the Namoi River, a vital artery in the Barwon catchment of the Murray–Darling Basin, faced significant environmental damage.

Local groups, including Gunnible Landcare and OzFish’s Moree River Chapter, joined forces to help the river recover, strengthening its ecological resilience and ensuring it continues to support wildlife and the community for years to come.

A collaborative effort rooted in local knowledge

The project brought together a passionate network of landholders, volunteers, and environmental organisations, including Gunnible Landcare, the Moree River Chapter’s Repair Bus team, and local landholders Tony Bernays and Margaret Hood.

This partnership harnessed deep local knowledge and grassroots commitment, making the restoration of the Namoi a true community-driven success.

Planting the seeds of recovery

At the heart of the project were hands-on actions designed to repair the river’s health. Over 600 native grasses and groundcovers were planted along gullies and riparian zones to combat erosion, stabilise the banks, and filter runoff into the Namoi.

Alongside this physical restoration, two Local Land Services NSW field days on soil ecology and a Gunnible Landcare field day on biodiversity encouraged local landholders and community members to deepen their understanding of sustainable land management.

Protecting native fish and river health

The Namoi River has long been home to native species like Murray cod, Golden perch, silver perch, catfish, and yabbies — but environmental degradation has put them at risk.

Restoring habitats and improving water quality helps these species thrive by providing spawning areas, food sources, and connected habitats, ensuring their survival even in the face of future floods or droughts.

Building a resilient Namoi

This project is more than a short-term fix, it’s an investment in long-term resilience for the Namoi River and its surrounding wetlands. Healthy, biodiverse river systems are better equipped to withstand natural challenges like floods, droughts, and climate change.

By supporting both the environment and the community, this initiative has laid the foundation for a thriving river ecosystem that can endure for future generations.

This project is in collaboration with the Moree River Repair Bus, Gunnible Landcare Inc, Tony Bernays and Margaret Hood, Boys to the Bush program in Dubbo, and the Wiradjuri Cultural and Environmental Rangers in Forbes. Funded unding from the OzFish-Landcare NSW partnership, Australian Government through the CRC Program and BCF – Boating, Camping, Fishing.