A combination of wind generated wave action and years of stock grazing was causing significant erosion and ecological decline on the banks of the Romiaka channel. Beginning in 2005, Bill Burns, the landowner of the site, began seeking assistance to address the problem. Conservation zones were fenced off from livestock in 2008, rotational grazing was introduced, a stock crossing was built and a weed management program was established to allow the degraded area to naturally regenerate. At the same time, tidal flows were returned to the estuary following the Shallow Channel opening project (completed by Clarence Valley Council, NRCMA and WetlandCare). While these actions were effective in some areas, others struggled to regenerate due to the constant wave action washing away seedlings before they could establish. In these areas, rock fillets made of large quarry rock were installed 2m in front of the eroding bank to reduce water movement adjacent to the banks. This was highly effective at allowing the mangroves to reestablish, with dozens self seeding within months. As a result of these actions, erosion has ben effectively stopped, the mangroves have grown back, the saltmarsh and coastal forest communities are regenerating, and weed infestations have been reduced. The upper bank, having been planted out with trees and shrubs, completes the restoration of this riparian ecosystem.

Mangroves

Method: Hybrid, Rehabilitation

Mangrove species: Avicennia marina

Hybrid structure: Rock fillet

Hybrid structure height (m): 2-Mar

Hybrid structure length (m): 15-20

Saltmarsh

Method: Rehabilitation, Hydrological restoration

Rehabilitation - method: Grazer control, Weed control

Hydrological restoration - method: Sediment removal