Macquarie RiverSmart initiative
Some of the challenges and issues to be addressed through the Macquarie RiverSmart initiative.
RiverSmart is keen to promote eco-tourism to boost regional economies, create jobs and raise awareness of how important rivers are to inland communities.
Helping native fish come back by allowing passage through weirs, providing more snags, reducing carp and willows and improving water quality.
Reducing willow invasions, such as here in Wellington, where removal has begun to return the river to how it once was. See below for more about the willow problem.
Inform the community about what's being done to help improve the health of the Macquarie river.
RiverSmart also aims to address water quality in stormwater and run-off. Gross pollutant traps to reduce litter in the river and RiverSmart homes, schools, farms and business initiatives - see advice regarding these via the links below.
Weirs and dams, if they have fishways installed, don't stop native fish migrations and this is healthy for the river overall.
Recognising and appreciating Indigenous connections to the river is also central.
Your chance to get involved
Since World Environment Day in 2009 (see below), when the Macquarie RiverSmart initiative was launched, it has grown and we are now keen to hear from local organisations, businesses and individuals who want to work together to help make a difference along the river.
Our 'big' event was the Macquarie Blue paddle-a-thon and river festival in November of last year (see below for more) and we now want to see that concept grow to all the population centres along the Macquarie.
Contact our Macquarie RiverSmart Facilitator for more details - via this link.
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Stuff we're doing at present
Under this initiative we have funded, or are working on at present the following:
Macquarie Blue paddle-a-thon and river festival (November 2009) - see below
Producing lots of T-shirts and other things to promote our work and
fund-raise - follow this link to the
RiverSmart shop
Holding blue bucket promotional events - follow this
link to
find out more
Development of teachers resource book to help them build sustainable river
management into classroom activities (being done with the Waterwatch
program)
A feasibility study to look out how to establish an eco-cultural 'trail'
from Burrendong to the Barwon, to encourage tourism along the river.
Green team works in Narromine, Dubbo and Wellington
Willow and other woody weed removals in Narromine, Dubbo and Wellington
Habitat mapping along the Macquarie river from Burrendong to Marebone weir
to find the place we need to especaily take care of and those that need help
the most (being done by I & I NSW)
Mapping of Indigenous cultural heritage along the Macquarie River (being
coordinated by Aboriginal Liaison Group)
Development of fundraising strategy
Production and airing of community service announcements
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Macquarie Blue paddle-a-thon and river festival (November 2009)
Despite unseasonally hot weather (40 plus !) the event went ahead, or at least the last day of it did. More than 100 people braved the hot, windy weather to paddle almost 16 kilometres from Butler's Falls Reserve to Sandy Beach in Dubbo where a concert by the river featuring Melinda Schneider entertained the crowd. We hope to hold more such events in 2010, possibly in other towns along the river as well. To find out more about the 2009 event and who helped us make it possible - click here
Macquarie Blue paddle-a-thon - stopover at Pilcher's Reserve beach. (Photo: Libby McIntyre).
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RiverSmart starts with a bang on the Macquarie !
The Macquarie RiverSmart initiative was officially launched with the announcement of a $1 million dollar partnership with the Central West Catchment Management Authority on World Environment Day
(5 June 2009).
Tom Gavel, Chairman of Central West CMA presents Bill Phillips, CEO of RiverSmart with their 'big' cheque for $753,000 on World Environment Day. With other contributions Macquarie RiverSmart was launched with close to $1 million to get on with the job.
RiverSmart's way of operating is to help establish community-based programs within urban and rural areas that help 'connect' people with their nearby rivers, wetlands and lakes so they take on a stewardship role and also take steps to reduce the collective 'river footprint' of the community.
This involves not only facilitating the establishment of rehabilitation reaches but also the development of RiverSmart schools, businesses, farms, homes etc initiatives within each community where projects are established. These are tailored to suit the local issues, concerns and priorities of the local population and landholders.
RiverSmart is also about recreational opportunities along the river. Removing willows here will making for better and safer swimming.