The Condamine Alliance has released research showing the value of intact riparian zones. The estimated 2013 Ex-cyclone Oswald flood damage and loss to landholders in the area totalled $5.4 million across nearly 8000 ha of land and 107 km of creek frontage. The average cost of damage to floodplain landholders was $822 per ha, and up to $50,000 per km of creek frontage. In contrast, the average cost of damage and loss on properties with healthy riparian zones was only about one third of those where riparian areas were not intact.
The assessment data also showed that in most cases, the more intact and healthy riparian zones were, the lower the cost of damage and loss to the landholder. In fact, the estimated cost of damage and loss from three landholders with the best riparian zones were just over $200 per ha and $13,000 per km of creek frontage.