First Line of Defence - the multiple benefits of mature riparian vegetation.
Capacity building
The issue
In May 2025 the Manning Valley was subjected to an east coast low that remained over our area for three days. Our already sodden landscape received an unprecedented amount of rain, over 650mm in some areas. The result was, what is now being termed, a one in five hundred year flood. Properties that have never been inundated before, flooded. Safe spaces for stock & machinery proved not safe and losses have been significant, particularly for the Lower Manning dairy farmers, oyster growers and cattle producers. The scale of soil erosion has been devastating. Landholders not only lost entire riparian zones but had to deal with all manner of foreign rubbish, dead stock, debris and mountains of timber.
As the mud dries landholders are counting the cost, taking stock of what needs to be done to repair fences, rebuild infrastructure and strategise for the future.
It was so heartening to see some positives amongst the carnage.
Dumaresq Island is located within the Manning River just outside of Taree. It’s rich soils grow beautiful pastures to support cattle. Being in the middle of a river does have its challenges for the 70 residents.
The solution
Nearly twenty years ago some island property owners recognised the fragility of the riparian zone and the benefits of vegetation. Landcare planted casuarinas on the top of the banks, local figs and lomandra. Mangroves were encouraged to grow on the waterline by leaving previous debris along the bank, trapping seed and providing some shelter for new seedlings.
The impact
Twenty years later these plantings not only held the bank together but they prevented large amounts of floating debris from being deposited on the land.
The first line of defence against raging flood waters in 2021, 2022 and now in 2025.