IS THE CLARENCE RIVER MIGHTY?

As we head into our traditional winter dry season, current weather conditions are worrying. Grafton has just experienced a prolonged period of hot weather with maximum daily temperatures at an incredible 5°C above average, peaking on 10^th April at 37.1°C, breaking the previous record by1.5°C.

 

With rainfall since October just one third of the long-term average, river flows and dam levels have declined rapidly. The situation is particularly dire for bushland environments that are still struggling to recover from the catastrophic 2019 fire-storm.

 

Water is life, and we are fortunate in that the valley’s lifeblood is provided by the state’s largest river system, affectionately called the “mighty Clarence”. However, the entire system is under stress and while the more remote wilderness areas are still relatively pristine, with waters cascading through dramatically picturesque mountain landscapes, the same cannot be said for the lower reaches of the river.

 

There are hundreds of kilometres of waterways across the valley that should more realistically be described as a depleted environment with sterile weed-infested banks, trampled by livestock with little left to attract native birds and animals. Further down the river system has been drained, distorted, and confined by levy banks into a single murky channel of water which is certainly no longer mighty.

 

So, can the Clarence River continue to help buffer us against the insidious impacts of climate change? Is it currently able to withstand the impacts of more intense rainfall events and resultant flooding and irreparable bank erosion, or continue to provide the basic needs of humans and the natural environment in the face of ever higher temperatures and frequent droughts?

 

To rescue the river and allow it to recover its best possible potential, it has to be protected. River and creek banks throughout the entire catchment need to be revegetated, and livestock excluded, something that all landowners can be involved in for their own benefit in reducing erosion of their land, as well as providing improved water quality for the entire population, and the wildlife we all want to thrive.

 

-        John Edwards

  Published in the Voices for the Earth column in The Clarence Valley Independent , 24 April, 2026.

 

VALUES OF VISITATION TO NSW NATIONAL PARKS OUTWEIGH LOGGING

 In a media release issued on April 22 the North East Forest Alliance called for the NSW Government to stop logging State Forests and protect them as National Parks in light of the latest visitation statistics which show that national parks attract millions of visitors to regional areas, injecting billions of dollars into regional economies and generating thousands of jobs.

The Government identifies that the 65.6 million visits to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) parks last year injected $19.5 billion into the state’s economy and supported 62,000 jobs.

National Parks in north-east NSW, north from Gosford, attracted 14.9 million visits last year. With 22.8% of NSW’s visitation, on a pro-rata basis, national parks in north-east NSW are responsible for injecting around $4.4 billion into the regional economy and supporting some 14,100 regional jobs.

“Conservation groups have fought hard over many decades to create most of our national parks, so it is reassuring to see that our efforts have been good for the environment and regional economies," North East Forest Alliance spokesperson Dailan Pugh said.

“Visitation to National Parks is rapidly increasing, over the past decade growing 25% in north east NSW. Creating new parks will increase future recreational opportunities.

“Because of their outstanding biodiversity, State Forests in north-east NSW have been identified by the Commonwealth as the highest national priorities for addition to the reserve system to satisfy the Global Biodiversity Framework target to protect 30% of Australia by 2030.

“Last year we lost $32 million logging our public native forests to prop-up a declining industry being out competed by cheaper plantation timber.

“Its time we stopped logging and degrading our public native forests as it is in the community’s best interests to protect them and allow them to recover.

“Recovering native forests will provide improved visitor experiences, while restoring animal habitats, sequestering and storing CO₂ out of harm’s way, reducing fire risk, increasing stream flows, and reducing flood peaks” Mr.Pugh said.

 

WILDLIFE CARERS PROVIDE CRUCIAL SERVICES

The biodiversity crisis in Australia is worsening.  In addition to the past drivers of species loss - habitat clearing and predation by feral pests - is the growing impact of the regular climate-driven disasters of huge fires and floods.

For many years the focus has been on governments (urged on by scientists and conservation groups) to deal with these past threats and implement recovery plans. On the sidelines have been wildlife carers whose important work is now regarded as crucial in dealing with biodiversity loss.

Ken Henry, chair of the Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation, is leading a campaign for wildlife protection to be coordinated nationally as part of a plan to reverse Australia’s biodiversity decline. 

While the campaign to overhaul the Environment Protection and Biodiversity (EPBC) Act has raised awareness of the biodiversity crisis, animals caught up in natural disasters need better protection. Henry and others want budget funding for services such as veterinary treatment and long-term rehabilitation of animals - much of which are currently provided by volunteers.

The soaring demand for help for sick, injured or orphaned wildlife is being driven by climate change and habitat destruction.

“As a consequence of these pressures,” Henry said, “more and more animals are getting in harm’s way.  When they get in harm’s way, governments take very little interest.  So it is left to volunteers to pick up the pieces and get those animals back into the wild.”

According to Dean Huxley of WA Wildlife, the volunteer workforce has reached a tipping point.  He said, “Government investment is not a luxury any more, it is essential.  Without it there is a real risk that injured wildlife will soon have nowhere to go and that is something the community would not accept if it were understood.”

While caring for injured or orphaned wildlife is very rewarding, it is hard work and involves considerable commitment as I know from the friend who has been a local WIRES carer for many decades. These carers need more support.

Will May’s Federal Budget provide funds for this?

-        Leonie Blain

 Published in the Voices for the Earth column in The Clarence Valley Independent , 3 April, 2026.