Innovative environmental project wins State award

12 December 2018

Recycled logs shore up banks against effects of climate change

Council’s innovative Oxley River bank erosion stabilisation project has won a 2018 Local Government NSW Excellence in the Environment award.

The project – located in the Eungella area - was recently recognised under the “Natural Environment Protection and Enhancement: On-Ground Works” category of the awards.

The awards recognise the work that councils do on behalf of their communities and, in particular, outstanding achievements by local government in managing and protecting the environment.

Council’s Oxley River project involved working together with three private landowners at Eungella to deliver large scale earthworks and riverbank reconstruction at two sites along the river.

Ex-tropical cyclone Debbie left extensive damage and severe bank erosion at these sites, with banks left about seven metres high and prone to further slumping and erosion.

Around 250 recycled hardwood logs - some with root balls still attached - were installed by Council to stabilise the Oxley River banks and improve aquatic and riverside habitat. They were driven four metres deep into the river bed to provide bank protection and capture further sediments.

The logs were sourced through vegetation management contractors working on the Pacific Highway upgrade between Woolgoolga and Ballina.

Director Community and Natural Resources Tracey Stinson said since the project, recycling large logs had now become standard practice for Roads and Maritime Services (RMS).

“It’s wonderful that these majestic big trees are being recycled and put to such good use,” Ms Stinson said.

“It’s lateral thinking such as this which is required to adapt to the effects of climate change.

“The landowners we partnered with have been glowing in their appreciation as the productivity of their farms has increased now they are not going to lose swathes of land to the river each time it floods,” she said.

As part of the project, the Oxley River banks were battered to a stable grade and covered with erosion control matting. More than 2000 native trees, shrubs and groundcovers were planted to provide long-term stability.

Riverside fencing was also installed to exclude stock from the two project sites.

Since the works were completed in December 2017, both sites have been extremely successful in preventing further erosion.

The project was funded through Council’s River Health Grant program, which aims to protect and improve water quality in the Shire’s drinking water supply catchment.

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Photo 1(JPG, 91KB)

Caption: Council’s Director Community and Natural Resources, Tracey Stinson and Project officer – Waterways, Matt Bloor, with the 2018 Local Government NSW Excellence in the Environment award (Natural Environment Protection and Enhancement: On-Ground Works category).

Photo 2(JPG, 124KB)

Caption: Before - Ex-tropical cyclone Debbie made a real mess of the banks of the Oxley River last year.

Photo 3(JPG, 141KB)

Caption: After – What a difference! Logs recycled from a nearby highway upgrade now have a second life protecting sections of the banks of the Oxley River from further erosion.