Understanding Your Landscape

ABOUT THE SERIES:

This four-part webinar series is designed to help land managers better understand their landscape.

Get practical guidance about what is happening on your property, learn how to manage erosion, navigate waterway health, use mapping tools and understand environmental regulations.

WHO IT'S FOR:

Landholders (new and experienced), landcare groups, Local Land Services staff, councils and community groups anywhere in NSW and ACT who are facing landscape challenges.
‍_{This webinar series has been developed with landholders in the Crookwell, Breadalbane, Grabben Gullen, Bannister and Gurrundah areas, and the wider Upper Lachlan Shire and Goulburn region in mind — but it's open to and relevant for anyone in NSW facing similar landscape challenges.}

WHEN:

Thursday 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th October 2026
12:30–2:00pm AEDT (1.5 hours)

COST:

FREE to attend.

HOW TO REGISTER:

Register here to attend any or all of the sessions below. Even if you can’t attend live, we encourage you to register so you can receive the webinar recording after the event.

Why attend?

Climate change and long-term landscape pressures are making land and waterway management more complex than ever; and landholders across the Upper Lachlan region have told us they want clearer, more practical guidance on how to respond.

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The Understanding Your Landscape webinar series aims to answer the questions we hear most often on-site visits, at workshops and on the phone:

How do I manage erosion on my property?
Who do I contact about a waterway issue?
Where can I find more information regarding land management and legislation?

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Webinar topics:

Thursday, 8^th October, 12:30–2:00pm AEDT

Fish, fisheries and fish passage

This presentation explores native fish and the barriers they face moving through the landscape. It looks at what best-practice fish passage outcomes look like in practice, with a particular focus on the fisheries guidelines set out by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).

Presenter: Emily Messer
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) - Fisheries ‍

I am an aquatic ecologist, who now works in the Aquatic Ecosystems Assessment team for Fisheries. I have over 10 years' experience in aquatic ecology, environmental impact assessment, and natural resource management. A lover of all things water - fresh, salty, flowing or still. I love working with people to get a fish friendly outcome.

Thursday, 15^th October, 12:30–2:00pm AEDT

Managing creeks, rivers and wetlands: Working with the Natural Resource Access Regulator (NRAR)

This presentation will provide land managers with a high level understanding of regulations when working on waterways in NSW. The session will cover important topics such as basic landholder rights (harvestable rights), stream order and the classification of waterways, controlled activities and exemptions that relate to conducting work without an approval. We will also provide information links to online tools and resources.

Presenter: Nathan Blakelock

Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR)

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I'm a core part of NRAR's Education team, which delivers programs to drive voluntary compliance with the NSW water laws. I have over 20 years of experience in the investigation and enforcement space, and I use my skills at NRAR to break down complex legislation and help people understand their obligations as water licence holders.

Thursday, 22^nd October, 12:30–2:00pm AEDT

Understanding the variability of salinity in landscapes of the Upper Lachlan: Models for NSW

This presentation will give land managers a straightforward introduction to salinity, including where salt comes from, how it moves through the landscape and how it shows up on farms and in streams. We will finish with Hydrogeological Landscapes (HGLs), a tool for identifying and managing salinity, and show how to find soil and landscape information using eSPADE, a free online map for accessing soil and land information across NSW.

Presenter: Allan Nicholson
NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW)

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Allan brings over 30 years of Natural Resource Management experience, working with communities conducting research, extension and investigation programs at local, regional, state and national scales. Allan is recognised regionally and nationally for salinity expertise, giving advice at a state and federal level.

Thursday, 29^th October, 12:30–2:00pm AEDT

Erosion explained: recognising risks, preventing problems and protecting your soils and waterways.

This presentation will provide land managers with a practical introduction to understanding and managing erosion. The session will cover important topics such as the different types of erosion, dealing with fragile soils, why maintaining good ground cover is so important, and when it's worth bringing in an expert to help develop an erosion repair plan. We will also explore why every erosion site is unique and needs its own tailored approach.

Presenter: Shane Laverty

Australian River Restoration Centre (Rivers of Carbon)

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I have over 25 years of experience in erosion control and earthmoving, with a particular focus on designing erosion control structures and programs, and establishing monitoring systems to evaluate their effectiveness. I've worked across a wide range of regions, landscapes and soil types throughout southern NSW and ACT.

* By registering, you'll also be added to the ARRC email list, so you can stay up to date with future webinars, fact sheets and resources. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Each webinar will run as a mini-workshop:

One hour presentation with real-world guidance from an expert in the field.

30 mins of live Q&A where you can ask about your own property or situation.

Experienced facilitation: Dr Siwan Lovett, founder and CEO of the Australian River Restoration Centre, will guide each session, drawing on many years of experience working with landholders, scientists and practitioners.

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What you’ll take away from this series:

Clearer understanding of the landscape processes affecting your property.

Best-practice actions you can put in place on your own land.

Confidence in who to contact for advice; whether that's Local Land Services, Landcare, us, or a government regulator.

Webinar recordings sent to you one week after the session.

Follow-up fact sheets with key points from each of the four topics.

With thanks to our supporters...

This series has been made possible with funding and support from the Gullen Range Wind Farm Community Fund.

Who we are

This webinar series is run by the Rivers of Carbon program, the on-ground component of the Australian River Restoration Centre.

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We have 18+ years of experience working directly with landholders to restore Australia’s wetlands and waterways. Our methods are grounded in science, practical experience, and local expertise, achieving tangible benefits for both the environment and on-farm productivity.

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If you have a question before you register, please contact us here.

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We look forward to you joining us in October!

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