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Wambuul Macquarie River, NSW

OzFish, volunteers and community partners have been working towards creating a healthy and vibrant waterway by continuing to deliver restoration activities in one of New South Wales’ main inland rivers.

Native vegetation

planted

Invasive weeds

removed

Many community groups

invovled

OzFish’s involvement in restoring the Wambuul-Macquarie River first commenced in 2021 and each new project plays a vital role in improving habitat in the region.

Spanning approximately 960 kilometres, the Wambuul-Macquarie River originates in the Great Dividing Range, journeying through diverse terrains to converge with the Barwon River.

A River Like No Other

This waterway directly influences the lives of the estimated 200,000 people within its catchment area, notably the city of Dubbo. The communities within the Wambuul-Macquarie’s reach, relying on its waters for agriculture, industry, and recreation, reflect the river’s profound importance. More than a river, it’s a vital artery that nourishes and sustains the region’s social, economic, and environmental fabric. It has woven itself into the cultural tapestry of the area, offering a space for community gatherings, celebrations, and a shared sense of belonging.

The Plight of the Wambuul-Macquarie River

The once-thriving native fish population within the waterway, boasting species such as the Macquarie perch, Murray cod, silver perch, trout cod, and freshwater catfish, now faces a grim reality. Historic land clearing, invasive species, soil erosion, pollution, and other human-induced adversities have negatively impacted the river’s riparian zones. These detrimental activities have led to drastic changes in the river’s catchment, undermining the health of fish habitats and the ecosystem’s overall health.

Supported by the River Repair Bus

The Dubbo River Repair Bus helps to protect areas of importance along the river system and its wetlands. This fantastic community-based initiative upskills local volunteers while helping our native fish through important habitat restoration work.

LATEST NEWS

29th JULY 2022 | Working together to create healthy habitats

Many hands make light work. Those hands when motivated by a shared goal and passion can achieve great things. That’s certainly true of our partnership with Landcare in NSW. By working together, OzFish and Landcare NSW are making a positive difference to habitat restoration. The scale of what can be achieved through collaboration was highlighted recently when one of our joint efforts in the Murray-Darling Basin reached a significant milestone. We have just planted our 10,000th tree along the Wambuul Macquarie River at Dubbo.

Find Out More

27th JULY 2022 | Local community key to reducing river litter

Local communities are being asked for their insights into tackling litter in and along the Wambuul Macquarie River as part of a new OzFish initiative to clean up the waterway. OzFish, Australia’s recreational fishing charity, is hosting a number of upcoming community engagement events. These events are the first step in a process to develop an action plan to address the litter problem facing the Wambuul Macquarie River.