We are honoured to work on the ancestral lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngarigo People and we recognise their continuing connection with, and knowledge about land, waters and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures; and Elders past, present and emerging.
Adapted from: Welcome to Country & Acknowledgement of Country – Creative Spirits
River Dreaming image (right). Artist: Richie Allen (Ngunnawal/Kamilaroi), Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.
“A river is water in its loveliest form, rivers have life and sound and movement and infinity of variation, rivers are veins of the earth through which the lifeblood returns to the heart.”
– Roderick Haig-Brown
Project Purpose
The Gudgenby River project is Rivers of Carbon’s second partnership with ACT NRM, and builds upon the successful Rivers of Carbon – Naas River project. The goals for the Gudgenby River align with ACT NRM’s Healthy Waterways program focus on preparing agricultural properties for a sustainable future. This will be achieved by connecting landholders along the river to undertake riparian restoration projects for biodiversity, water quality and climate resilience benefits.
The Gudgenby River is located in southern ACT, formed by the confluence of Bogong Creek and Middle Creek. The river begins near the border of ACT and New South Wales in Namadgi National Park, and travels north and northeast about 30 kilometres, to join the Murrumbidgee River near Tharwa township. Along its course the Gudgenby has nine tributaries, including the Naas River and Orroral River. Vistors to the Gudgenby are met with the beautiful and diverse landscapes of Mount Tennent, Fitz’s Hill and many agricultural properties grazing sheep and cattle. Over time, the river has attracted fishers, bird watchers and others ready to enjoy the native fish populations of Murray cod and yabbies, the Scarlet and Flame Robins, and Wedgetail Eagles.
Why Gudgenby?
The Gudgenby River continues the work we began with the Naas River which worked with landholders to protect and restore their stretch of the river. Across the ACT, river systems have been facing significant pressure from increasing water temperatures, reduced average flows, flash flooding events, and subsequent erosion.
The actions undertaken to address these issues in the Naas River, will now be used in collaboration with landholders living along the Gudgenby. We will support landholders with incentives for fencing, native revegetation, installation of alternative stock water, small-scale erosion works, minor woody weed removal and community ‘get-togethers’. This combination of activities will raise the awareness of issues impacting the river, control stock access, revegetate and offer pathways for landholders to restore their rivers.
Outcomes we are aiming for:
Protect and restore 10 ha of riparian land
Manage 3kms of waterways
Involve 6 landholders
Hold 2 community events
Manage 6 erosion control remediation sites
Plant 2,000 native trees and 1,500 native grasses
3 km of riparian area protected (fencing)
Want to get involved?
We would be delighted to hear from you. What you need to do now is to check the map to ensure you are within the Gudgenby River area. If you are, please contact us using the details below.
Lori Gould, Program Manager
✉️lori.gould@arrc.com.au
📞0439 030 058
Jed Pearson, Project Officer
✉️jed.pearson@arrc.com.au
📞 0476 251 910
