Riverbank recovery improves remote waterways health

A significant riparian restoration program has commenced at three sites along the Flinders River near Hughenden, north-west Queensland.

The Flinders flows directly to the Gulf of Carpentaria, making river health critical when it comes to supporting local jobs and the sustainability of the region's vital fishing and agriculture industries.

The project aims to repair damage from the torrential rain and extreme flooding experienced in 2022, which washed valuable vegetation, soil and slabs of riverbank downstream.

It's part of the $32.75 million Riverine Recovery Program delivered by the Australian and Queensland Governments under joint Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Working closely with land managers, councils and Traditional Owners, Southern Gulf NRM used aerial reconnaissance to identify damaged areas of Flinders River that need restoration work.

The surveillance efforts led to three high-priority sites being earmarked, including a patch at the popular Hughenden Golf Club.

These severely degraded riverbank erosion zones have been identified as holding the biggest potential to build back significant river resilience to future disaster events.

The works will limit sediment and nutrient runoff into the environment and minimise the impact of severe rainfall and flooding on the unique biodiversity of the Flinders River. 

The end goal for restoration efforts is to ensure the natural environment encourages healthy ecosystems by establishing vegetation in and around areas of severe erosion until it becomes self-sustaining.

The Flinders River riparian restoration and disaster recovery work is being delivered by Southern Gulf NRM, Verterra Engineering, sub-contractors, and local suppliers from Flinders Shire.