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Upcoming events and updates across the Refreshing Rivers Program

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Celebrating success: Willow removal

Central Billabong landholders celebrate the incredible success of willlow removal projects over the past 15 years, which have turned clogged creeks into broad, navigable waterways, flanked by redgums and revegetation plantings, and home to native fish and birds.

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Working with landholders to restore Macquarie Perch in the Adjungbilly creek

"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.

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Wetlands for Wildlife 2023

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.

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Wetland planting at Leeds: Students make a difference along 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.

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Golden day for Golden perch: boosting native fish in Billabong and Yanco Creeks

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.

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Platypus making a comeback after Black Summer bushfire

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.

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September 11, 2024

Whats the Value? Understanding the financial opportunities of your farms’ natural assets

Landholders from the Coolac area joined our paddock walk to learn more about on farm biodiversity and explore ways to diversify on farm income.

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January 2, 2024

Golden perch fingerlings released in the New Year

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.

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December 20, 2023

Trialling carp electrofishing a second time on Billabong Creek, Conargo

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.

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January 8, 2024

Murray Cod Comeback

In 2013, the Riverina Highlands Landcare Network undertook some works on the Adelong Creek to improve habitat for native fish. As part of the project, Murray Cod fingerlings were also released.

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December 1, 2023

Farm-Scale Natural Capital Accounting Field Day

Woomargama Station recently hosted the LaTrobe University group who are working on a Farm Scale Natural Capital account framework

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March 26, 2026

School Holidays event - Aquatic Plant Propagation

Let's get our hands dirty and prepare wetland plants onto growth mats! We do this to prepare them to be replanted into rivers and streams, to improve the health of our waterways.

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March 29, 2026

Platypus Monitoring

Take part in the Platy-project and you’ll help researchers understand more about this elusive animal, and how we can better protect it..

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March 25, 2026

Virtual fencing - a step change for waterway and pasture management?

We're hosting an introduction session to virtual fencing technology! Come and learn about virtual fencing, the pros and cons of the technology, and hear from one of the technology providers, Halter and a farmer in the early stages of adoption.

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March 10, 2026

Refreshing Rivers Carpathon 2026

European carp (Cyprinus carpio) uproot vegetation, degrade habitat and reduce water quality, competing with native species for food and space. Come along to help us remove some of these carp from our local waterway.

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February 28, 2026

Celebrating Our Nocturnal Environment

Join the Refreshing Rivers team and Landcare under the clear, unspoilt night skies for an evening celebrating the beauty and importance of our nocturnal environment.

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November 8, 2023

Restoring Instream habitat at Billabong Creek, Conargo

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.

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November 5, 2023

Kids Fishing Day at Jerilderie

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.

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September 27, 2023

Platy-project afternoon at Colombo Creek

Citizen science afternoon at Colombo Creek, Morundah, looking for the elusive platypus with YACTAC and Murrumbidgee Landcare Inc.

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May 18, 2023

Rakali on the Billabong Creek: a story from a Jerilderie local

Photo credit: David Smith, Sustainable Farms ANU

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March 29, 2026

Refreshing the Upper Billabong - refuge pools

Extreme low flows are pushing refuge pools to their limits. Heat, sediment, salinity and stock impacts are degrading water quality and threatening native fish. This article outlines what’s causing it and practical steps we can take to protect our waterways.

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March 30, 2026

Refreshing the Upper Billabong - Creek Connectivity and Understorey

Courtesy of the Refreshing Upper Billabong project, we have a limited number of tubestock suitable for planting both instream and along creek banks to reduce erosion and create habitat.

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March 31, 2026

Success Story | Upper Billabong Citizen Science

We lacked information on the aquatic wildlife of the Upper Billabong catchment, so using Citizen Science - the Refreshing Rivers iNaturalist project and eDNA tests, we have gathered 1,672 observations across the catchment and also completed 9 eDNA profiles in local waterways.

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March 26, 2026

School Holidays event - Aquatic Plant Propagation

Let's get our hands dirty and prepare wetland plants onto growth mats! We do this to prepare them to be replanted into rivers and streams, to improve the health of our waterways.

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March 25, 2026

Virtual fencing - a step change for waterway and pasture management?

We're hosting an introduction session to virtual fencing technology! Come and learn about virtual fencing, the pros and cons of the technology, and hear from one of the technology providers, Halter and a farmer in the early stages of adoption.

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March 23, 2026

Where Farming meets Conservation

David Bray and Louise Freckleton are stewards of Highfield Farm and Woodland, a 335 Ha property near Adelong in the eastern Riverina. Highfield blends conservation of critically endangered Box‑gum grassy woodland with a small‑scale paddock‑to‑plate enterprise and a thriving ecotourism operation.

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March 23, 2026

Protecting the wildlife of our riparian corridors: Feral Cats and Cat Trapping

Waterways such as creeks, rivers, wetlands and riparian corridors are biodiversity hotspots. Many species relying on these areas are highly vulnerable to feral cat predation.

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February 28, 2026

Celebrating Our Nocturnal Environment

Join the Refreshing Rivers team and Landcare under the clear, unspoilt night skies for an evening celebrating the beauty and importance of our nocturnal environment.

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February 27, 2026

Native Vegetation and Waterways: Supporting Biodiversity and Farming in the Yaven Creek

The Refreshing Rivers project is offering a pilot project to deliver low-cost waterway solutions for landholders on the Yaven Creek.

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January 29, 2026

Help Us Establish A Southern Pygmy Perch Nursery

Through the Refreshing Rivers Program, we are looking for landholders with farm dams, gravel pits or wetlands, who are interested in establishing refuge "arks" for this rare species of fish.

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The Refreshing Rivers Program is a collaboration between government, industry, research, and community organisations, led by Local Land Services. This Program has been assisted by the New South Wales Government through its Environmental Trust.

The Refreshing Rivers Program works on Country that always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters, and we pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.

Website developed by the Australian River Restoration Centre

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