News and Events

What's not to love about being outdoors amongst the redgums, planting and restoring wetlands on a sunny day, with kids having fun in the mud and a bbq? Plus, a great result for habitat and vegetation at this property on the Yanco Creek.

Coleambally Central School students embraced muddy boots and big smiles as they joined YACTAC on November 27th to plant native wetland species at the Leeds property, “Broome”, on the Yanco Creek. The students planted jointed twig rush, spike rush, and sedges to restore a backwater habitat.

YACTAC, with Refreshing Rivers and DPI Fisheries grants, released 25,714 golden perch fingerlings. Golden perch, also known as yellow belly, are a native species of the Murray Darling Basin. Once abundant, populations have suffered due to habitat degradation, invasive species and river regulation.

The Black Summer Bushfires had a huge impact – including on the iconic Platypus. Populations may have declined by up to 18%, but work is underway to understand Platypus population health and restore habitat.

Over the course of several events in late 2022 and early 2023, significant work has been undertaken to restore fish habitat on the Colombo Creek. Schoolkids helped plant trees, while a separate event was held to reduce carp numbers through electro-fishing.

Join Riverina Local Land Services and Landcare for a hands-on workshop and explore the intriguing world of tree hollows and their importance to wildlife.

We have some fantastic events coming up for the Upper Billabong Refreshing Rivers BioBlitz! These are all free events and everyone is welcome!

In this hands-on workshop, aimed at the mature age group, you will learn how to record nature observations and contribute to an international biodiversity data base. Each participant will also receive free plants and resources to improve nature in their own back yard.

We have some fantastic events coming up for the Upper Billabong Refreshing Rivers BioBlitz! These are all free events and everyone is welcome!

We have some fantastic events coming up for the Upper Billabong Refreshing Rivers BioBlitz! These are all free events and everyone is welcome!

Join us for an evening wetland walk, talk and free bbq dinner. Friday March 8th 2024 5.30 pm - 8.30 pm Topics include: aquatic and riparian vegetation, environmental water in the Yanco Creek System, wetland fish, bats and rakali, frog identification and spotlight

YACTAC were out in the New Year on the Billabong Creek, Conargo, releasing 27,273 golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) fingerlings as part of the Refreshing Rivers Program which aims to improve local waterway health.

A final day of electrofishing targeting carp (Cyprinus carpio), on a five kilometre stretch of Billabong Creek, Conargo, occurred on December 20th, 2023. Carp once again proved to be the dominant fish with a tally of 266 kgs for one day on a 5 km stretch of creek.

An instream planting event occurred in early November at Conargo TSR. Past Central Billabong environmental action has been about securing water and willow removal. Planting for purpose and instream restoration is being showcased as methods to use broadly.

YACTAC and Refreshing Rivers were at the Jerilderie Fishing Club’s Kids Fishing Day supporting a creative activity with a waterway theme. The chosen focus species was the eel-tailed catfish.

In pursuit of Platypus! We've been eDNA sampling along the Billabong Creek in the Upper Billabong Project Target Area, looking for the presence of Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) in the system.

We have some fantastic events coming up for the Upper Billabong Refreshing Rivers BioBlitz! These are all free events and everyone is welcome!

We have some fantastic events coming up for the Upper Billabong Refreshing Rivers BioBlitz! These are all free events and everyone is welcome!

We have some fantastic events coming up for the Upper Billabong Refreshing Rivers BioBlitz! These are all free events and everyone is welcome!

Holbrook Landcare and the Refreshing Rivers Program invite YOU to take part in the Great Southern BioBlitz – a fun, hands-on weekend of nature discovery with a focus on our beautiful creeks and waterways in the Upper Billabong region!

Refreshing Rivers has recently completed works focussing on the critically endangered Tumut Grevillea (Grevillea wilkinsonii). This Grevillea is one of the regions rarest plants with just over 1,000 individuals surviving along a 6km section of the Goobarragandra River in eastern Riverina.

The Tumut Grevillea is an endangered plant that's only found along a short section of the Goobarragandra River. The Landcare nursery at Tumut grows Tumut Grevillea as one of many plants which are suitable for local conditions.

"Maccas" were once widespread, but are now threatened and the Adjungbilly Creek is critical for their long-term survival. Through this partnership, more than 250ha of habitat has been enhanced, and over 30,000 native trees and shrubs planted along the creek.

The Black Summer Bushfires had a huge impact – including on the iconic Platypus. Populations may have declined by up to 18%, but work is underway to understand Platypus population health and restore habitat.

A new chain of hotels has just been established in Tumut, but their guests will be fish!