Native vegetation
to be planted
Community workshops
to be held
Fish hotels
to be installed
A collaborative effort
OzFish Unlimited and Hunter Region Landcare Network came together to restore a degraded section of the Hunter River through riparian restoration that saw the planting of 2,000 plants and the installation of flood deflection barriers to ensure the survival of these plants.
Many years of habitat loss
The Hunter River was severely degraded over the past 200 years due to land clearing for farming in the floodplains. This loss of native bushland, along with historical de-snagging practices (the removal of riparian and instream trees and wood), led to severe sedimentation, poor water quality, and reduced habitat in the river. As a result, the riparian zones were unable to perform important ecological functions that support local wildlife and maintain waterway health.
The site chosen for restoration feature limited vegetation density and diversity, extensive invasive weed growth, and unstable sediment prone to erosion.
Improving the riparian zone
Planting 2,000 native trees, shrubs, and rushes along the riparian zones increased the availability of habitat and food sources for local wildlife. The plants also helped protect the riverbank from further erosion and filtered runoff, reducing the amount of sediment and contaminants entering the waterway.
The benefits of habitat
3 large woody snags and 8 fish hotels will be installed. These structures improve fish habitat by:
- Creating natural scour pools
- Decreasing erosion by resisting and deflecting flows
- Improving water quality through increased oxygenation
- Provide shelter for fish
- Serving as a feeding source
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The project is part of OzFish’s Driving Fish Habitat Action partnership with Landcare NSW, and is proudly supported by Aurizon, and BCF – Boating, Camping, Fishing.
