Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Georges Riverkeeper wins grant to restore vital riparian habitat 

Nell Graham stands in a thicket of woody weeds onsite at Riverside Reserve Urban Rivers Grant site
Nell Graham stands in a thicket of woody weeds onsite at Riverside Reserve Urban Rivers Grant site

Georges Riverkeeper is thrilled to announce the successful funding of the Georges River Riparian Recovery Project, a major environmental initiative aimed at restoring and enhancing riparian ecosystems at four locations in the Georges River Catchment in Sydney. 

This project, made possible through the support of a $899,198 grant as part of the Australian Government’s Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, will deliver long-term ecological benefits to the local waterways and bushland in the Georges River catchment. The riparian restoration sites include Brown Reserve in Bonnyrigg, Riverside Road Reserve in Chipping Norton, Myles Dunphy Reserve in Oatley and Hawthorne Reserve in Ramsgate.  

Spanning three years, the project will focus on treatment of invasive plant species encouraging native regeneration, revegetating riparian areas and implementing cultural land management practices in partnership with Traditional Owners. A key highlight of the project will be a Cultural Burn, planned for two sites, which will integrate traditional ecological knowledge with contemporary conservation efforts. 

 Georges Riverkeeper Program Manager, Nell Graham, says: "This grant allows us to take significant steps toward improving the condition of and our critical riparian habitats, and fostering community involvement in environmental preservation. And, we are especially excited to work alongside Traditional Owners to incorporate cultural burning practices that enhance ecosystem resilience."  

Other key project outcomes include: The removal of invasive weeds across 9.5 Ha of riparian land, revegetation of 28,500 native plants and the protection of five threatened ecological communities and species.  

Community involvement is at the heart of this initiative, with eight opportunities for participation ranging from National Tree Day plantings to educational walk and talks.  

This project will not only enhance local biodiversity but also improve water quality and create healthier habitat for wildlife. 

This project is funded by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust under the Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, with the support of Georges Riverkeeper and Bayside Council, Fairfield City Council, Georges River Council and Liverpool City Council.