Riverbank stabilisation

What are we doing? 

The Riverbank stabilisation project is working with landholders in the South East, North Coast and Hunter regions of NSW to undertake works to protect banks from erosion.

Some methods used to protect riverbanks from erosion include engineering works to stabilise banks, such as snags installation, snag hotel, log jams and log/rock fillets. This is often coupled with replanting the riverbanks to further stabilise the bank.

These structures reduce the impact of wind and wave erosion on riverbanks while providing valuable ecosystem services such as increasing mangrove populations.

What have we achieved so far?

North Coast 

In the Emigrant Creek area near Ballina almost three kilometres of bank stabilisation structures have been installed over the past four years. This has prevented an estimated 2,000 tonnes of sediment from entering the Richmond River estuary following each major flood.

Hunter

On the Manning River at Pampoolah, we have installed 650m of rock fillets to protect the riverbank and encourage mangrove growth. In the Karuah River catchment, we have addressed severe gully erosion by undertaking rock work, fencing and replanting of a 700m gully coming into the Branch River.

South East

We have assisted land managers to stabilise more than 1370m of riverbank erosion along Bega Valley, Eurobodalla, Shoalhaven and Kiama waterways using root balls, pins and logs to stabilise eroding banks. Often the battered bank edge is subsequently planted with native vegetation and fenced from stock access.

MEMS media release - Works completed on Bega River log wall (nsw.gov.au)

Check out the video A coordinated approach to reducing pollution in the Richmond River to find see how our work on bank stabilisation is benefiting the river.

We completed a geotechnical investigation, detailed engineering design and approvals to stabilise 146 metres of riverbank erosion on the Bega River.

The erosion treatment includes earthworks to batter the failed bank, placement of root balls and logs to encourage sediment deposition, and reestablishment of native riparian vegetation. These measures will buffer land use from adjacent dairy paddocks and benefit river ecosystems, land managers and the dairy industry.

This work will reduce nutrient and sediment inputs, protect aquatic habitats and support biodiversity. By collaborating with land managers, we will strengthen community engagement and deliver long term resilience of the Bega River.

Our riverbank stabilisation works at Maguires Creek have achieved 600 metres of bank stability, capturing sediment and seed from mangroves, rainforest trees and macrophytes to promote natural regeneration.

We will finalise the project with the installation of artificial snags and reef modules to reduce erosive forces and enhance instream habitat. These measures protect riverbanks from further degradation, improve river health and biodiversity, and support long term waterway resilience and climate adaptation.

We led a field tour titled Nature based solutions to instream works in Maguires Creek at the NSW Coastal Conference in November 2025, attracting 25 delegates. The tour highlighted 600 metres of innovative riverbank stabilisation on beef and macadamia farms and demonstrated practical applications of nature-based erosion control.

Delegates observed mangrove embayments, wave deflection structures, saltmarsh rehabilitation zones, old growth mangrove protection, artificial snags and log revetments. This hands-on experience provided insights into sustainable approaches that balance agricultural productivity, biodiversity and climate resilience.

Find out more

To find out if funding for riverbank stabilisation is available in your area, please contact your regional contact or email mems@lls.nsw.gov.au.

North Coast
Shaun Morris, Senior Land Services Officer, 0467 796 442 or shaun.s.morris@lls.nsw.gov.au

Hunter
Michael Barberie, Senior Land Services Officer, 0460 310 506 or michael.barberie@lls.nsw.gov.au 

South East
Leanna Moerkerken, Senior Land Services Officer, 0427 291 798 or leanna.moerkerken@lls.nsw.gov.au

Related projects

Riverbank stabilisation one of four Local Lands Services projects funded under the Marine Estate Management Strategy to improve water quality of targeted coastal rivers.

Related Local Land Services projects include Improving roads and tracks, Riverbank stabilisation and Clean Coastal Catchment on-ground.

You can also find out more about these projects on the LLS website.

To find out if funding riverbank stabilisation is available in your area, please contact your regional contact or email mems@lls.nsw.gov.au.

North Coast
Shaun Morris, Senior Land Services Officer, 0467 796 442 or shaun.s.morris@lls.nsw.gov.au

Hunter
Michael Barberie, Senior Land Services Officer, 0460 310 506 or michael.barberie@lls.nsw.gov.au 

South East
Leanna Moerkerken, Senior Land Services Officer, 0427 291 798 or leanna.moerkerken@lls.nsw.gov.au

We are working with a variety of primary producers (such as beef, dairy and horticultural), as well as private and public land managers interested in improving riverbank stability and reducing sediment and nutrient loss into the Marine Estate.

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development are our key MEMS partner in this project.