Refreshing Rivers

Working with landholders to improve waterway health across the Murray-Riverina region of New South Wales

Learn MOreTAKE ACTION ON YOUR PROPERTY

Improve our waterways for current and future generations

Our waterways have enormous ecological, cultural and economic significance, and are the lifeblood of our land and communities. They are vital to agriculture and to the survival of threatened plants and animals. The Refreshing Rivers Program is working with more than 1,600 landholders to improve waterway health across the Murray-Riverina region.

Coordinated approach

Be a part of a coordinated effort to improve waterway health, truly driven by local community values. Your input shapes local Waterway Management Plans and actions.

Personalised support

Get personalised support from Project Officers to identify the best opportunities for your property and diversify your income.

Rewards for your actions

Be rewarded for the actions you already take and will take in the future to protect and enhance waterways.

Learn more about the program
Learn about Refreshing Rivers - a collaborative 10-year program to improve catchment management and waterway health across the Murray-Riverina region of NSW.

Take action in your Target Area

We are working with landholders in the Murray-Riverina region of New South Wales (NSW) across three Target Areas: Central Billabong, Upper Billabong and the Riverina Highlands.

Click on the map to visit your region and find out how you can get involved in improving waterway health.

Visit the Target Area pages to find out more:

Central BillabongUpper BillabongRiverina Highlands

Success Stories

Check out a few of the ways in which community, landholders and project partners have come together to improve our waterways and the ecosystems that depend on them. The Refreshing Rivers Program provides the opportunity to build on past successes as well as addressing new and ongoing challenges.

Upper Billabong

Restoring waterways for Southern Pygmy Perch

In the upper reaches of the Mountain Creek, habitat restoration for the endangered Southern Pygmy Perch also has many benefits for landholders, revitalising much-loved and valuable creek systems.

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Central Billabong

Colombo Creek fish habitat restoration project

Over the course of several events in late 2022 and early 2023, significant work has been undertaken to restore fish habitat on the Colombo Creek. Schoolkids helped plant trees, while a separate event was held to reduce carp numbers through electro-fishing.

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Riverina Highlands

Platypus making a comeback after Black Summer bushfire

The Black Summer Bushfires had a huge impact – including on the iconic Platypus. Populations may have declined by up to 18%, but work is underway to understand Platypus population health and restore habitat.

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Central Billabong

Wetlands for Wildlife 2023

What's not to love about being outdoors amongst the redgums, planting and restoring wetlands on a sunny day, with kids having fun in the mud and a bbq? Plus, a great result for habitat and vegetation at this property on the Yanco Creek.

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Central Billabong

Celebrating success: Willow removal

Central Billabong landholders celebrate the incredible success of willlow removal projects over the past 15 years, which have turned clogged creeks into broad, navigable waterways, flanked by redgums and revegetation plantings, and home to native fish and birds.

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Riverina Highlands

Saving the Endangered Tumut Grevillea

The Tumut Grevillea is an endangered plant that's only found along a short section of the Goobarragandra River. The Landcare nursery at Tumut grows Tumut Grevillea as one of many plants which are suitable for local conditions.

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Who can I talk to?

Meet our Project Officers in each Target Area

If you are interested in getting guidance for waterways on your property, get in touch.

Central Billabong

Andrea Mitchell

Yanco Creek and Tributaries Advisory Council Inc (YACTAC)

"What I enjoy most about my role is meeting people and being out in the field. I have a passion for agriculture, environment and community, which I carry with me into this role. I think the value of the Refreshing Rivers Program will be seen in action through listening and learning from our community."

Favourite plant or animal: Murray-Darling Rainbow Fish (Melanotaenia fluviatilis)

0419 841 834

andrea@refreshingrivers.org.au

Upper Billabong

Kylie Durant

Holbrook Landcare Network (HLN)

"We have one of the last populations of Southern Pygmy Perch in the Murray catchment and it has been teetering for the last 10 years. Getting the whole community involved and keeping our creeks and waterways functioning and resilient as our natural and production systems adapt to climate changes, can give these struggling species the fighting chance they need."

Favourite plant or animal: Shield Shrimp (Triops australiensis)

0418 198 522

kylie@refreshingrivers.org.au

Riverina Highlands

Cherie White

Riverina Local Land Services, working closely with Riverina Highlands Landcare Network

"There are not too many jobs where you can physically see the difference you have made. I enjoy working with landholders to design their projects and I love going back and revisiting sites to see how these projects are making a difference to the way landholders manage their land."

Favourite plant or animal: Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

0427 407 126

cherie@refreshingrivers.org.au

Want to collaborate with us?

The Refreshing Rivers Program is a collaboration between government, industry, research, and community organisations, led by Local Land Services. This Program has been assisted by the New South Wales Government through its Environmental Trust.
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We are exploring innovative ways to improve waterway health, and we would love to collaborate with you. Please get in touch with our Program Coordinators by emailing info@refreshingrivers.com.au or completing the form.

Christine Allen

Refreshing Rivers Program Manager
Murray Local Land Services

“I am excited to be managing such an ambitious, community centred program, and to work alongside local people to make real positive steps to improve the health of our rivers. Water quality is so important for agriculture, recreation including fishing, aesthetics of the local area, tourism opportunities and community pride. Healthy waterways equal healthy land, healthy communities, and healthy people!”

Favourite plant or animal: Fairy Aprons (Utricularia dichotoma)

0428 217 271

info@refreshingrivers.org.au

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The Refreshing Rivers Program is a collaboration between government, industry, research, and community organisations, led by Local Land Services. This Program has been assisted by the New South Wales Government through its Environmental Trust.

The Refreshing Rivers Program works on Country that always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters, and we pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.

Collaborate with Us

Please get in touch by emailing info@refreshingrivers.com.au

All material © Refreshing Rivers 2023.

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