OzFish Coffs Harbour Chapter is working with Orara Valley RiverCare Group, to reduce erosion and improve water quality along Fridays Creek. This will support native fish species, vegetation, and wildlife including platypus.
500 native trees
and shrubs planted
1.3km of native habitat
restored
1 community planting day
hosted
Removing weeds to allow waterways and wildlife to thrive
The area of Fridays Creek which the project looked at had been adversely affected by invasive weeds, including lantana, privet and camphor laurel, over a number of years. Grazing livestock had also negatively impacted the native vegetation and riverbanks.
The area’s original vegetation was lowland sub-tropical rainforest and classed as a Threatened Ecological Community. Elements of this remained and, working with local hand holders, OzFish and Landcare volunteers set to further restoring it.
They removed 1.3 kilometres of weeds before hosting a community planting day which saw 500 native trees and shrubs placed along the banks of Fridays Creek. These will help to stabilise the banks, preventing further erosion and sediment runoff into the water.
This helps to improve water quality and with the restored trees also providing a valuable source of shade and food for animals in the creek, the project has delivered a significant boost for native fish populations.
The restored riparian zone will help to regulate the water temperature and as branches break off from the trees, will provide a source of natural woody habitat in the waterway for fish and other aquatic life.
Widespread benefits
As well as restoring a healthy habitat for native fish, including Australian bass, the project has delivered wider benefits too. As well as fish, the restored habitat is benefitting platypus, rakali, birds, lizards, and turtles which call Fridays Creek home.
Through the community planting day and educating participating volunteers, it has fostered greater community involvement and capacity to participate in similar activities in the future. Projects like this help to raise awareness of issues affecting the local environment and create a sense of responsible stewardship for waterways and surrounding areas.
The removal of weeds and restoration of native vegetation, along with the previous halting of livestock grazing, has led to local landholders, Orara Valley River care Group, reporting a welcome explosion in the volume of native vegetation returning to the area.
The wider property is being transformed into a wildlife wonderland, with many thousands more trees to be planted, helping to create and link koala habitat.
Donate to OzFish today to help projects like this one across Australia.
DONATE NOW
The project is part of OzFish’s Driving Fish Habitat Action partnership with Landcare NSW, with funding support from BCF – Boating, Camping, Fishing.
