The unusual event is part of the NSW Lachlan catchment’s award-winning Boorowa River Recovery project – a partnership between Greening Australia, the Lachlan Catchment Management Authority, Boorowa Landcare Group and TransGrid.
One hour north-west of Canberra at the headwaters of the Lachlan River, the Boorowa River catchment supplies fresh drinking water for Boorowa and its surrounds - a centre for major agricultural industries grain, wool and meat.
“The Boorowa river is a complex ecosystem providing precious habitat for our native plants, birds, fish and animals, including the Superb Parrot, the official emblem of NSW’s Boorowa Shire.” Greening Australia’s Project Manager Lori Gould said.
“The Boorowa river’s ability to continue to support that life has been under serious threat, but through landholder and community support and action we are starting to see some real changes.”
The project’s restoration actions are proving highly relevant to recovery plans for the Southern Pygmy Perch and may even assist the recently discovered Yellow Spotted Bell Frog, she said.
The Tzu Chi Buddhists, who have volunteered to plant 3,000 native plants along the river, are part of a project which now involves 70 landholders, 640 hectares restoration, and 80 km of stream rehabilitation including a 29 km continuous stretch of Boorowa River. The work seeks to reduce sedimentation and salt loads transported by the Boorowa River into the Lachlan, an important river in the Murray Darling Basin system.
Since the start of the Boorowa River Recovery campaign $2 million has been co-invested from government, industry and community groups in partnership with local landholders.
“The success of this project shows just what can be achieved with the help of the community, landholders and co-investment” said Ms Gould “It is always a great feeling to achieve these things together. The Tzu Chi Buddhists are really keen to give back to the environment, and the local Boorowa community really appreciates it”.
Greening Australia’s nationwide River Recovery program, partnered with Alcoa Australia, aims to restore over 10,00kms of degraded Australian rivers over the next 20 years. Boorowa River Recovery is an important model for other River Recovery Programs around the country. It involves targeted on ground works, scientific research and education programs that encourage regional partners to co-invest in the health of Australia’s rivers.
For more information contact: Lori Gould on 0439 030 058
