Recovering mayor launches three-pronged campaign to improve river health.
Greens bring on motion recognising river as ‘Maamang‘.
NSW Govt funding immediate flood debris clean-up.
Ballina Shire Mayor Sharon Cadwallader is leading a renewed campaign to secure full funding to restore the Richmond River, describing it as the most urgent environmental threat facing the Northern Rivers.
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Despite still recovering from a serious head-on crash last week, Cr Cadwallader has launched a three-pronged effort to draw support for river restoration across regional, state, and national levels.
In her national role as Chair of the Australian Coastal Councils Association, she is calling on state and territory governments to work with local government to develop a coordinated national response to coastal climate risk.
“We need a National Coastal Adaptation Fund, to be administered at the Commonwealth level,” she said. “Fifty percent of Australians live within seven kilometres of the coast — this is a national issue that demands national action.”
At the local level, Cr Cadwallader initiated the campaign with a Mayoral Minute passed unanimously at the March Ballina Shire Council (BSC) meeting. This was followed by a more detailed motion adopted at last week’s Rous County Council meeting.
That motion calls on State and Federal governments to fully fund the $150 million Northern Rivers Watershed Initiative (NRWI) — a 15-year program aimed at restoring river health, improving water quality, and reducing flood risks across the region.
It also seeks coordinated lobbying of three key NSW ministers, highlighting the ecological damage caused by the recent blackwater event in the lower Richmond River after Cyclone Alfred, as well as the early success of a $5 million pilot grant already in progress.
“This is a problem far greater than climate change,” Cr Cadwallader said. “It has the potential to destroy our way of life long before the global effects of climate change are fully felt. We can’t afford to wait.”
The NRWI, developed by Rous in 2019, uses natural flood mitigation, catchment restoration, and updated drainage infrastructure to improve streambank stability and reduce environmental risk. While $5 million has been committed to fund work through 2027, an additional $145 million is needed to complete the full program.
Cr Cadwallader says she will now take the issue to the Northern Rivers Joint Organisation of Councils to build broader regional support.
Kiri Dicker Follows with ‘Maamang’ Motion
Following the Mayor’s lead, Ballina Greens Councillor Kiri Dicker has submitted a related motion to this week’s council meeting.
“Maamang (also known as the Richmond River) is undoubtedly our region’s most precious natural asset,” she says in a letter to supporters, recognising what she claims is the Bundjalung indigneous name for the river.
While echoing many points made by the mayor in a Mayoral Minute passed unanimously at the March meeting of BSC, Cr Dicker’s new motion specifically proposes council investigate a buyback of rural properties in the Tuckean swamp area for wetland restoration.
Sharon and Bruce On the Mend After Crash
Cr Cadwallader hopes to be back in the chair for Thursday’s monthly BSC meeting having attended the Rous meeting via video call due to injuries sustained in a head-on collision the previous weekend. She and husband Bruce were involved in the crash on River Street, West Ballina on the approach to Fisheries Creek Bridge (link to the story below).
Both were taken to Lismore Base Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, along with the 35 year-old woman driver of the second car. The mayor suffered serious bruising and continues to recover at home under doctor’s orders to rest. Family members told the Ballina News Daily that she has struggled to slow down her work schedule despite advice. They’ve expressed thanks to the community for the messages of support.
Police are continuing investigations and have asked anyone with dashcam footage or information to come forward.
Read more on the Mayors car accident here
PICTURE: The Mayor assessing the muddy waters on the Ballina CBD waterfront, the day before the road accident. Cr Cadwallader says the NSW Government has confirmed it will cover the cost of cleaning up debris along riverbanks and beaches as well as retrieving wreckage and debris from the bottom of the river. She says the work is overdue as it never happened after the 2022 flood and presents a risk to river users. “Goodness knows what they’ll find down there,” Cr Cadwallader said.
Thanks Rod – great stuff by all concerned – keep the pressure up Madam Mayor and BSC councillors. The Richmond River is the lifeblood of our region