OzFish’s work on this section of the Macdonald River is further evidence of the success that can be achieved through its partnership with Landcare NSW.
300 trees and shrubs
planted
33 hours
volunteered
86m of riverbank
protected from erosion
Repairing flood damage
In March 2022, the Hawkesbury Nepean catchment flooded widely and in July 2022, the Macdonald River rose to record levels. This caused significant damage to the historic town of St Albans and the river’s riparian vegetation.
Established eucalypts, more than 12 metres tall and 20 years old, were uprooted and the understorey and ground cover layers were largely wiped out. Any remaining vegetation was then buried by sand during the clean-up efforts.
This project addressed that damage by planting a selection of native pioneer species, including eucalypts, callistemons, sandpaper figs, and cheese trees. These have powerful root systems that will help the trees become established and play an important role in shoring up the riverbanks and protecting them from erosion.
Reducing the amount of soil that enters the waterway helps to improve the water quality and benefits native fish in the waterway, such as the Australian bass.
The larger trees have been accompanied in the groundcover layer by mat rush and flax lilies, with additional native species planted.
Community effort
A community planting day, bringing together recreational fisher volunteers from OzFish Hawkesbury-Nepean Chapter and members of Hawkesbury-Nepean Landcare Network, was held to restore this section of the riverbank.
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This project has been delivered with funding support from the NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts under the Landcare NSW Partnership, Creating Canopies, and BCF – Boating Camping and Fishing. This project is also supported by Hawkesbury City Council.
