Richmond RiverFest launches with community celebration in Ballina
The Richmond River came alive on Sunday, September 28, as Northern NSW locals gathered at Fawcett Park in Ballina to mark World Rivers Day and launch Richmond RiverFest 2025.
Perfect spring weather was on offer, with beautiful, clear blue water on high tide. The event’s launch set the tone for a month of environmental action and celebration across the Richmond catchment.
A day for the river
The program featured a Welcome to Country, cultural weaving, kids’ nature play, live music by Nidala, and talks on topics such as why this catchment has suffered fish kills, how it can be restored, and the importance of looking after Country. Families were out on the grass to picnic along the riverbank while fresh local seafood straight off the trawler and food stalls kept everyone well fed. OzFish Project Manager Zoe White said the day showed what’s possible when the community comes together.
Zoe White, OzFish Project Manager
Our river has taken some hits over the past few years, but Sunday proved that our community has not given up.
“By restoring the river’s oyster reefs, saltmarsh and wetlands, we know that habitat changes will bring our fish back, and that’s something we can all build on”, she said.
Community voices at the heart
The event brought together voices for the river from across the catchment, including local fishers who spoke about the changes they’ve seen on the water. Local volunteer groups added practical knowledge from their own projects. At the same time, families joined in kids’ activities along the riverbank, making the day both a celebration and a working session on how to repair the river.
Momentum for the month ahead
The launch also marked the beginning of The Tinny Trip, where river champions Graeme Gibson and Steve Posselt are taking their boat from sea to source during RiverFest. They started their journey in Ballina and will go as far upstream as they can go to highlight the poor state of the Richmond and Wilson Rivers, and spark community conversations to demand change.
Their journey will include public forums in Kyogle and Casino to gather local voices and ideas. Ms White said keeping momentum going across the month is critical.
RiverFest is about action, not just talk. Every planting, every working bee, every forum adds up. This launch was the spark, and the next four weeks are where the hard work really takes place.
Zoe White, OzFish Project Manager
A month of festivities
With more than 25 events scheduled, ranging from restoration tours and tree plantings to art workshops and cultural sharing, RiverFest is set to keep the spotlight firmly on the Richmond River and its future. You can join the celebrations with Taste the Tackle in Richmond Valley on October 11, where you can learn about the impacts of invasive carp, watch cooking demonstrations, and take part in a weekend fishing competition.
The RiverFest will wrap up on October 25 with a planting event, where volunteers will add 1,500 native trees and grasses to the riverbanks, restoring fish habitat and reconnecting remnants of the Big Scrub rainforest. As the sun set over these festivities, the community was left with a clear message that the river’s recovery is possible if everyone plays their part.
To find out more, visit richmondriverfest.com for the whole program.
