Landscape restoration project kicks off

Hard clay pan landscapes in the region will be restored thanks to an enforcement action by the Natural Resources Access Regulator.

Northern Slopes Landcare is delivering the project which aims to re-establish vegetation and improve soil moisture on difficult-to-manage land on local properties.

Initial funding for the program comes from an enforceable undertaking between NRAR and Boggabri Coal Operations, which allegedly took surface water without a licence and collected it in temporary and permanent storages between early 2019 and April 2022.

Payment by the company of $10,000 toward a community project with a water management focus in the local area was among six critical conditions of that legal agreement.

The project started on Wednesday, May 15 when Landcare hosted an education workshop for landholders at Narrabri about the benefits of rangeland rehabilitation using a technique known as water ponding.

Water ponding involves construction of ponds on hard clay pan landscapes to slow overland flow.

Slowing water movement in this way has been shown to increase soil moisture, improve soil structure and encourage both annual and perennial vegetation regrowth.

On-ground earthwork on selected properties will follow the workshop.

Water ponding at a Wee Waa property.

NRAR chief regulatory officer, Grant Barnes said enforceable undertakings were designed to benefit the community and the environment.

“They typically deliver real benefits to local communities and often this happens close to where the offending is alleged to have happened,” Mr Barnes said.

“We are delighted that this enforceable undertaking will result in difficult land being rehabilitated through careful management of water in the landscape,” he said.

Mr Barnes said NRAR used enforceable undertakings when a company or individual breached NSW water laws in a significant way.

“An enforceable undertaking is sometimes proposed to NRAR to remedy a breach as an alternative to court action.”

“It needs to contain actions to address the rule breaking and to acknowledge the breach of the Water Management Act 2000.

“When we decide if an enforceable undertaking is the right course of action, we consider what happened, how serious it was and whether there is a history of rule breaking.

“An enforceable undertaking will not be accepted unless NRAR considers it can deliver positive outcomes in the public interest in accordance with our guidelines.”

Boggabri coal mine also must install more accurate water meters on the mine site and report four times a year about its water use under the enforceable undertaking.