Rivers of Carbon is the on-ground program of the Australian River Restoration Centre.  

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Overview

Location: Goulburn, NSW

The Rivers of Carbon – Goulburn District River Linkages project was a 10-year landscape-scale restoration initiative funded by NSW Environmental Trust, delivered from 2016 to 2026.  

Project Area

River systems in the Goulburn District were fragmented, with degraded riparian corridors impacting biodiversity, water quality, and ecosystem resilience. We partnered with landholders and regional organisations to reconnect river linkages through revegetation and erosion management, improving ecological function and biodiversity outcomes across the catchment.  

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“When pumping water up the dam, it used to be mucky brown, but now it’s crystal clear.”

- Landholders, Steve and Megan Kilby

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Outcomes

  • 25,900+ trees planted across 50km of waterways
  • 408 ha of riparian land restored, creating a biodiversity corridor by linking nearly 3,950 ha of remnant vegetation  
  • 40 km of stock exclusion fencing  
  • 402 ha of weed control
  • 14 alternative stock water systems and 6 erosion control structures
  • Partnered with 42 landholders over 30 sites, securing long-term 10-year stewardship agreements
  • 1000+ people engaged across 13 community events
  • Significant environmental and biodiversity improvements documented across all sites

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Timeline

The Goulburn District River Linkages project ran from 2016 to 2026.