Bank Restoration Projects

Bank Restoration Map.
​Click on [ ] box in corner for larger map

Video of Bank Restoration work at Numbaa and Numbaa Island NSW

Planting for resilience to
​flood at Bamarang NSW 2024

​Foreshores along Bolong Road
​2001-2002

​Description: This was the 1st major Riverwatch project on the north side of the river with the construction of a rock retaining wall using heavy machinery and rock from the construction of the Melbourne to Sydney gas pipeline.
Planting included mangroves (which were not that successful on this side of the river), sheoaks and phragmites. Lessons learnt included new mangrove planting techniques and reducing the need for expensive heavy machinery.
Duration: 2001 to 2002.
Cost:       $21,000
Photos:   ​Link to Bolong Photos

​Numbaa Island Foreshore Restoration
​2009-2019
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​Description: This is a large project with the construction of groynes and planting over 11,000 mangroves, 4,000 oak trees, 50 mahogany trees and saltbush along the north and west banks of the island.
The major work has been completed and maintenance is now being undertaken. The work is continuing under the direction of our new Project Manager, Peter Jirgens with many dedicated volunteers.
Unfortunately, the force of flood waters in 2019 undermined much of the bank work. Some areas our work is successful, other areas require more expensive options.

​Duration: 2009 to 2019.
Cost:        $25,000+
Photo Links: ​Working Bee Jul15, Oct 2008, Nov 2008, Dec 2008, 

Riversdale Working Bees
​2013-ongoing
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Description: On 30Sep13 work began on planting river mangroves on the foreshores of Riversdale.  The riverbanks in front of the Riversdale homestead and function centre have been badly eroded as a result of continual wake from boating activities.
Work has continued with the construction of the sand sausage to stop erosion and the planting of native plants.
The location is also an important trial to see if the river mangroves can grow in this environment.
Duration: 2013 with follow-on maintenance.
Cost: Plants and materials have been donated by Riverwatch.

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Minnamurra River Restoration
​2016 & 2021

Riverwatch volunteers have undertaken work to restore a section of the River bed, which was washed out due to water pipe failures.
The work has been funded by Sydney Water and covered:
  • Collect Grey Mangrove seed on the Shoalhaven River and plant on the Minnamurra River at 2/m2 (approximately 920)
  • Supply, deliver and plant 230 100mm mangroves pots @ 1/m2
  • Supply and install a 1 metre high barrier fence across the pedestrian access track at the start of the area to be revegetated
  • Supply and install a sign ‘Revegetated area, please keep out’
  • Remove the barrier fence and sign in 2 years time.
Duration: 2016 & 2021

Riverwatch undertakes Bank Restoration work on the Yowaka River
​2018

With shovels in hand, Sapphire Coast Wilderness Oysters (SCWO) farmers and Shoalhaven Riverwatch took to the banks of the Yowaka River in May 2018 for a two-day “sand sausage” working bee to combat erosion.
​See the press articles on our Media Page.
Duration: 8-9 May 2018
Cost:        $3,300

​Foreshores at Numbaa
​2001-2012

Description: Bank stabilization and planting mangroves and trees along south bank of River at Numbaa. 
Over 3kms of banks restored including over 77,000 mangroves, 2000 oak trees and 200 swamp mahogany trees. 
All the techniques to achieve a low cost approach to bank restoration, including the propagation of mangroves and native vegetation, were developed by Charlie Weir with many Riverwatch volunteers helping to undertake this major project.  Many other teams including Green Corp, local Aboriginal and environmental groups also assisted with the work.
Final year local high schools students often visit this site as part of their environmental science course.
Duration: 2001 to 2011 with on-going maintenance work.
Cost:        $10,000
Photo Links: ​2001-2012

Nowra Golf Club Bank Restoration.
​2013-2021

Description: This project was seeking to stop erosion along the riverbanks fronting fairways 4 & 5 of the Nowra Golf Course.  Fencing of approximately 200 metres, planting of over 370 mangroves and laying over 350 metres of sand sausage was undertaken to help stabilise the bank. 
This project was financially supported by Shoalhaven Council and Shoalhaven Landcare.      
The Nowra Golf Course veteran volunteers together with Riverwatch volunteers need to be congratulated on an excellent bank restoration project.  The site has now become a major site for Riverwatch with many new and inexpensive bank restoration techniques trialed.
Many of the techniques developed by Charlie Weir have been successfully applied with better-than-expected results.  
This project was completed in 2021 with the relocation of our mangrove nursery to Shoalhaven Heads. The Golf Course site is still used for school excursions to show the various bank restoration techniques.
For information on the design see the Google document titled Nowra Golf Club Project and our Nowra Golf Club Information Sheet.
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Duration: 2012 to 2021.
Cost:        $2,485 and growing.

Fishing Platform and Bank Work at Bolong
​2014 & 2019

Description: Bank restoration and the construction of a fishing platform. The $50,000 fishing platform was funded by the NSW State Government through the Recreational Fishing Trust.  The $300,000 bank restoration work was funded by the Federal Government. Riverwatch provided advice during the planning stage but credit must go to Shoalhaven Council for the overall design and management of the project.
This is a good start to repair this badly eroded section of the Shoalhaven River. Additional funding will be required to complete this section of the river.
Completed: 2014 (Platform), 2019 Bank Restoration.
Cost:           $350,000

Bamarang Restoration
​2014 and Ongoing​

This work covers a number of properties at Bamarang and Longreach.  This section of the river is mainly fresh water and has suffered bank erosion of previous poor farming practices and, more recently, active water suports. A number of new techniques have also been trialed at these locations including the growing of Gray River mangroves, which usually grow in saline water.
This project started in 2014.
​The majority of funds are from the NSW Government Local Land Services.
Duration: 2014 and ongoing.
Cost:         $14,000
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Longreach Bank restoration
2021-2022

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Shoalhaven Riverwatch has been successful in obtaining a Recreational Fish Habitat Grant from NSW Department of Primary Industry.
The work will include the reshaping of the riverbank to a natural slope, construction of sand sausage to protect the toe of the bank, planting native vegetation and the planting of phragmites in the riverbed. This section of the river has a stretch of phragmites which are an excellent fish habitat for recreational fishing. 
Unfortunately the loss of bank in this area during the 2020 floods has degraded this habitat and the bank restoration, as well as planting some additional phragmites, should improve the health of this habitat. 
Duration: 2021-2022
Grant Funding: $6,265
In Kind Contribution: $16,480