Help the Rivers

of the Bellinger and Kalang catchments

The rivers of the Bellinger and Kalang catchments are unique and some of the healthiest in Australia.

All residents and tourists need to work together to protect what we have.

1. Wash swimmers and canoes between swimming holes and allow them time to dry.

The biohazard risk of the Bellinger River Virus still prevails.

In 2015, the Bellinger River Virus killed an estimated 90% of the Bellinger River Snapping Turtle population.

Wash your canoes and swimmers in between visiting difference swimming holes, both within the catchments, and beyond, to help prevent spreading the virus.

Allow items to dry thoroughly before re-use.

2. Go to the toilet before you leave town

The only public toilet on our rivers is at Lavenders Bridge so go to the toilet before you leave town!

Urine adds nitrogen to the river and going to the toilet near a river creates a public health risk. If you need to pee whilst visiting our rivers, do so at least 20m away from edge of the river bank, on land.

3. Pick up after your pet

Leave only paw prints.

Pick up pet waste to stop bacteria and other bugs from entering our waterways.

  1. Keep plastic bags in your car.

  2. Get them out of the car (!)

  3. Take them with you to the river.

4. Park in parking areas

(vehicles destroy riverbanks).

“I don’t drive all over your home, so why drive over mine?”

The riverbank is home to many diverse species that play an important part in the river ecosystem. Drive only on roads and in parking areas, never on riverbanks.

If you see someone driving on the banks of our rivers, please take note of their number plate and report it to the police on 02 6690 1100.

(responsibly).

5. Spend time at the river

Only when we form a connection with rivers, can we then hear the call to protect them.

There are lots of ways to (responsibly) enjoy our rivers. Rent a kayak, go for a swim, or just take a stroll along a local waterway. Any time spent connecting with the rivers that sustain us is time well-spent.

6. Think zinc

(not sunscreen).

Be mindful of what you're adding to the river. Zinc is more helpful for rivers than sunscreen.

Chemical sunscreens and insect repellents add pollutants to the river. Please take a rashie or wear zinc when visiting our rivers.

7. Take your waste with you

plus 3 extras!

Take your rubbish home and dispose of it responsibly.

The ocean provides us with the oxygen we breathe and the climate that sustains us.

All rivers lead to the sea.

We need clean rivers and clean oceans.

Rain carries litter pollution to the river - cigarette butts, bottle tops & plastic bags are the most common items that choke and kill wildlife.

  1. Place your litter in bins provided at the river.

  2. If the bin is full, take your rubbish home with you (participate in the NSW Container Deposit Scheme to recycle your eligible cans and bottles).

  3. Please also take 3 extra pieces of rubbish with you when you leave the river. Read more at take3.org

8. If a swimming hole is full, drive on

Let’s not overload our swimming holes.

When we do this, we may impact riverbank erosion and some water quality parameters. If a carpark is full, please drive or walk on to the next hole.

9. Volunteer

with Bellingen Riverwatch, Bellinger Landcare or Bellingen Urban Landcare.

Our community works together to help protect these rivers.

Join the network of volunteers working to collect river health data and restore riverbanks. Plants and trees creates stability in our riverbanks and help to reduce the amount of soil running into rivers. And they help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions too.

Studies show that spending time outdoors for at least two hours per week has long-term health benefits. So while you’re improving the health of your river, you can improve your own health as well.

  • Belllingen Riverwatch has three programs you can volunteer in -

    1. Tree Planting Program

    2. Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Program

    3. Water Quality Monitoring Program

    Register for Bellingen Riverwatch volunteering opportunities on our events page.

  • Or join Bellinger Landcare Inc to stay up to date about new groups.

    Membership is free and you'll get newsletters and updates.

    Join here

  • Join Bellingen Urban Landcare via their website at bellingenurbanlandcare.org.au.

10. Report what you see

Please report fish kills, turtle sightings, turtle nests, algal blooms, or inappropriate activity on our rivers.

  • Report turtle sightings using Turtle SAT, and report nesting sites, and sick or dead turtles on (02) 6659 8200 or 131 555 or Shane.ruming@environment.nsw.gov.au

    How to Use Turtle SAT

    NSW Govt. Threatened Species App

  • See or smell something that doesn’t look right? Call 131 555 (NSW only) or contact your local council to report leaks, spills and other pollution incidents that can harm the environment.

    You can also report littering or illegal dumping using the EPA Litter App.

  • The algal information line on 1800 999 457 provides recorded information on algal alerts.

    To report suspected algal blooms during business hours, phone Dane Clarke, Algal Coordinator, Coastal (Metropolitan and South Coast, Hunter and North Coast) on (02) 9865 2559 (Parramatta).

    To report suspected algal blooms at all other times, an email can be sent to RACC@waternsw.com.au with details and any available photos of the suspected bloom. A WaterNSW RACC coordinator will respond to your inquiry at the earliest opportunity.

  • To report a fish kill, phone the Fisheries Watch Hotline on 1800 043 536.

  • Report potentially hazardous items like metal parts, agricultural waste and cars by calling the Environmental Line on 131 555 to report potentially hazardous items like metal parts, agricultural waste and cars.

  • Call the Bellingen Police on 02 6690 1100

Partners

This project is part funded by Inspiring Australia, Bellingen Shire Council, the Department of Planning and Environment and its’ Saving our Species program, and the Flood Recovery Program for Water Quality Monitoring. This program is developed and delivered by the Water Wetlands and Coastal Science Branch within the Department of Planning and Environment’s Environment and Heritage Group. It is delivered in partnership with the NSW Environment Protection Authority and is funded under the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Bellingen Riverwatch would like to thank all of our Steering Committee Partners for their dedicated work on this program.

Contacts

  • Bellingen Riverwatch Coordinator

    Sam Daykin

    sam@ozgreen.org.au

    0447 949 259 (Mon-Thurs)

    Bellingen Riverwatch Program Manager

    Amy Denshire

    amy@ozgreen.org.au

  • River & Biodiversity Officer

    Justine Elder

    02 6655 7300

    council@bellingen.nsw.gov.au

    Water Resilience Officer

    Amanda Carter

    02 6655 7300

    council@bellingen.nsw.gov.au