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.

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.

DPI Fisheries are our key MEMS partner in this project.