$5 million for our rivers and catchment areas

By Samantha Elley

Thanks to a grant from the NSW Government the rivers in the Northern Rivers will be getting a ‘make over’.

Called the Northern Rivers Watershed Initiative, it involves initiating shovel-ready projects to improve water quality in the Tweed, Brunswick, Richmond and Evans river catchments.

“I am delighted to be announcing the funding of $5 million for the Northern Rivers Watershed Initiative,” said Lismore state member, Janelle Saffin.

“It’s a whole series of projects, it operates across six local government areas from Lismore, Kyogle, Richmond Valley, Ballina, Tweed, Byron.

“We’ve talked about doing repair and we’ve talked about the Watershed Initiative for a long time and Rous County Council did a lot of work on it.”

The funding became an election commitment which has now come to fruition, according to Ms Saffin.

Works will start in  October, 2024 and is based on the application of a range of natural flood management techniques across the Northern Rivers.

Key projects include:

• Working with macadamia farmers on orchard floor management, water sensitive drainage and soil stabilisation.
• Improvements in waterway condition to establish self-sustaining vegetated buffer zones including weed removal, cattle exclusion and planting 10,000 trees.

Jeremy Stewart, Whian Whian Landcare, Garry Lambert, landholder with wife Margaret, State MP Janelle Saffin, Anthony Acret, Rous County Council and Joseph Leven, Casino Food Co-operative.

This is a major partnership between Rous County Council, Lismore City Council, Richmond Valley Council, Kyogle, Tweed, Byron and Ballina Shire Councils, North coast Local Land Services and the Northern Co-operative Meat Company.

“We are backed by a whole catchment community that is really motivated,” said Anthony Acret, Catchment Assets Manager at Rous County Council.

“We’ve got landcare groups, first nations groups, community organisations that are doing a lot of this work themselves and its great to be able to work with them in partnerships to generate these sorts of outcomes.

“And of course we can’t do this work without partnerships with landholders.”

Garry Lambert is one of those landholders who owns acreage at Boatharbour.

“My interest of course is the land around us but I am a member of the community,” said Mr Lamber, former mayor of Darwin.

“You don’t have to be a scientist to look down at that creek and see the degradation that has happened over many years. That’s the history of farming.

“There’s now a movement to bring some vitality back to these waterways and make them much more productive.”

Mr Lamber said he and his wife were working at regenerative farming practices.

“This is just a perfect way of making sure we can be sustainable, that maximise capacity of the land,” he said.

“But still keeping production happening, because we still need to feed people, still need employment for people but we need to manage the environment.”

For more local news, click here.

The Northern Rivers Times Newspaper Edition 216

The Northern Rivers Times is packed with essential information as we continue our “Meet the Candidates” series. This week, we’re featuring the candidates from Ballina, Kyogle, Lismore, and Richmond Valley, giving you a closer look at the people vying for your vote.

The Northern Rivers Times is packed with essential information as we continue our “Meet the Candidates” series. This week, we’re featuring the candidates from Ballina, Kyogle, Lismore, and Richmond Valley, giving you a closer look at the people vying for your vote.
Our comprehensive 72-page edition is full of insights, interviews, and profiles to help you make an informed decision at the upcoming elections.
Pick up your copy early tomorrow from your nearest Newsagent, Woolworths, or Ampol Foodary service station, general and rural stores. Don’t miss out on this vital resource for the Northern Rivers community!

Our comprehensive 72-page edition is full of insights, interviews, and profiles to help you make an informed decision at the upcoming elections.
Pick up your copy early tomorrow from your nearest Newsagent, Woolworths, or Ampol Foodary service station, general and rural stores. Don’t miss out on this vital resource for the Northern Rivers community!

$6 million goal for Mick Fanning film

By Samantha Elley

A new film that documents the 2022 floods on the Northern Rivers is to be previewed to local residents next month.

With never before seen footage of the flood, film makers Terry Webster and Stuart McKay of Free Flow Films have put together ‘Washed Away: A Triumph of Human Strength and Unity’.

The narrative by professional surfer Mick Fanning, who himself had been on hand to rescue many from the flood, follows the locals who defied the odds, stepping forward to lend a hand to strangers, even at the risk of their own lives.

The film has a deeper purpose as well, and that is to raise $6 million to continue fixing flood-damaged homes through the volunteer-run Hands and Hearts Project, which to date has raised $65,000 through the Mick Fanning Charity Golf Day and private donations, along with $180,000 in donated materials.

“There’s been an inequitable distribution of flood funding from the start,” said Lyndall Murray of the Hands and Hearts Project. “Our elderly are facing their third winter in caravans, living in mouldy cold homes or in temporary housing. We need a faster rollout of the $790 million resilient homes program to ensure our community isn’t left behind.”

“We need investment in infrastructure and sports facilities to help the Mid Richmond river towns thrive on the floodplain like they have for generations. We must see continued government investment to help protect the life savings people have in their homes and businesses.”

Featuring music by Silverchair, Goanna, Pete Murray, Tex Perkins, Noiseworks, Hussy Hicks, Filipe Baldomir, Ben Jenz, and Israel Cannan, the film aims to raise $6 million, with 50% of profits going to the Hands and Hearts Project via the Mid Richmond Neighbourhood Centre.

The creators are offering anyone who has the capacity to watch the story ahead of the streaming release next month, the chance to see the film and provide feedback while it is still in post production.

WASHED AWAY – PREVIEW UNCUT (Almost Finished) FREE COMMUNITY SCREENINGS 

• Friday 16th August 2024 5:30pm Broadwater Community Centre
• Saturday 17th August 2024 12:00PM, Evans Head Recreational Hall
• Saturday 17th August 2024 5:30pm, Woodburn Memorial Hall

LIMITED TICKETS – Must Register for FREE entry. The trailer can be seen here.

For more Evans Head news, click here.