CUDGEGONG RIVER REHABILITATION, MUDGEE

Mid-western Regional Council recently completed it’s regeneration of a 1.4km stretch of riverbank along the Cudgegong River in Mudgee, NSW. Approximately 700m of the site needed formal weed control including many willow trees that needed to be removed before planting of native riparian species.

After completing significant weed control, the project improved the natural environment through revegetation works with native plant species in order to increase both the habitat and amenity values of the area.  

The riverbank area was dominated by invasive weeds including many willow trees. It was considered that an integrated weed management approach was the most appropriate action to ensure high success rates for planted and naturally recruited native vegetation. Where possible, the woody weeds were removed by cutting them down and removing the bulk of the tree. The stump and root system were left in situ in order to minimise any impacts on riverbank stability. In some cases, stem injecting the willows within the river from canoes was required, as was some spraying of noxious herbaceous weeds. All native trees and plants have been retained.

800 native tubestock comprising 400 grasses and groundcovers, 200 shrubs and 200 trees, along with 40 mature trees were planted in consultation with local landholders. These were underplanted with 6kg of native grass seed to provide habitat for local native fauna.

Extensive negotiations with local landholders were required and this resulted in some positive long term outcomes. Before the project began, the landholders had already removed the woody debris from the river banks and since project completion, a landholder has kept up maintenance of weed control and has installed a fence along the river bank to exclude stock.

A key feature of the project was educating the community on the purpose of the restoration and removal of willows. 5 signs were produced:

• Willows and river restoration

• Birds

• Carp fish and other animals

• Where the Cudgegong fits into the Murray Darling basin and stormwater

• History

Growth of the native species has been swift as demonstrated by the photos below showing the site as it looks today.

This project has been developed to restore native vegetation back to the riverbanks at this site which is anticipated to attract a range of native bird species and pollinators. The project is proudly supported by the Environment & Waterways Alliance to the value of $19,832.

Click here to download the case study for this project.