The floodplain will be the subject of a $365,000 research and community engagement project, following a successful funding application under the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Flagship Fish Habitat Grants Program.

The project, submitted by North Coast Local Land Services (LLS), will deliver a remediation strategy, complete with engineering design options to improve water management across the floodplain.

DPI Fisheries manager Charlotte Jenkins said the research scope is multi-focused, aiming to provide plans that will incorporate improvements to the current drainage network for increased productivity on floodplain farm land.

“It will also aim to neutralise acidic conditions across a large area of Mayes and Doughboy swamps, improve freshwater wetland condition, and rehabilitate estuarine habitat,” she said.

During the development of the plans, extensive landholder and community engagement and detailed water movement modelling will be undertaken to achieve these outcomes.

Ms Jenkins said infrastructure such as floodgates constructed mainly in the early 1970s has resulted in the exposure of acid sulfate soils in the Clybucca.

“This has unfortunately had wider impacts on the estuary, including the loss of fish habitat and impacts to aquatic life, such as fish and oysters,” she said.

North Coast LLS’ Max Osborne said a key component of the project is community engagement. The Water Research Laboratory at the University of New South Wales (UNSW-WRL) has been engaged to prepare the strategy and the aim is to ensure all stakeholders’ concerns are addressed.

“Over the next 18 months, North Coast LLS and UNSW-WRL will be working closely with landholders on the Clybucca floodplain, Seven Oaks Drainage Union, Kempsey Shire Council, NSW Government agencies, community groups, the Aboriginal community, industry, and academics to ensure we get the best outcomes for the region,” he said.

“The Flagship grant from DPI will allow us to develop this important remediation strategy that is a critical step towards addressing one of the biggest environmental issues in the Kempsey Shire and the North Coast region.

“The Clybucca backswamp is one of the largest acid sulfate soil impacted landscapes on Australia’s east coast and the remediation strategy will benefit the whole community; generate jobs and make significant improvements to the local environment.”

The project is also supported by significant in-kind contributions of over $425,000 from project partners. The plan is due to be completed by July 2019.

Ms Jenkins said the Clybucca Floodplain research is the largest project to date under the Flagship Fish Habitat Grants Program, which has seen a total of $800,000 awarded across the State since it launched in October 2016.

“The Flagship program supports projects that seek to benefit fish stocks by increasing the extent and quality of coastal fish habitats,” she said.

The program is financed from funds generated through collection of the recreational fishing licence fee in NSW and is managed by NSW DPI Fisheries on behalf of the Recreational Fishing Trust.

For more information on the Flagship Fish Habitat Action Grant Program, visit https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/habitat/rehabilitating/ahr-grants-program/flagship-fish-eoi