A massive eight month clean-up effort has seen approximately ten shipping containers worth of debris removed from a 90-kilometre stretch of the Macquarie River near Warren.  

Flooding events in 2022 caused swelling in the soil beneath trees, leaving trees to pile up and become jammed together at narrow points along the river. As well as organic material like trees human-made debris was also clogging up the river.  

Warren Council and the community worked to secure funding so the debris could be cleared.  

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began removal work in April 2024. It was funded under the joint Commonwealth and State Disaster Funding Recovery Arrangements. 

NSW EPA Director of Incident Management and Environmental Health, Arminda Ryan, said the massive clean-up effort was challenging, but the EPA managed to complete it successfully thanks to the help of the community.   

"We achieved what we did by working closely with the community, expert colleagues in other agencies, the Warren Shire Council and our specialist contractor. 

“In particular, the involvement of the community was vital. The people of Warren know this river inside out, and right from the get-go, they provided us with invaluable advice to ensure the works were completed with the sensitivity of the local environment in mind."

IMAGE: Car and other debris that was blocking flow of the river. Supplied by EPA

Crews from specialist contractor Northern Rivers Marine Services worked through challenging conditions to remove large amounts of human-made flood debris from the rafts, including a car, chemical drums, fridges and dryers, canoes and more. 

“Severe floods have lasting, wide-spread impacts, often resulting in costly and complicated clean-ups for local communities, so we’re pleased we could deliver this clean-up program with a great result for the river and the community,” Ms Ryan said. 

Member for Barwon Roy Butler, expressed thanks to EPA and community, saying he was happy to see the river flowing again.  

"I went out there to have a look in March 2023, and it was a massive tangle of trees, mostly introduced species, blocking the river flow.   

"I look forward to going back to Warren to have a look at the river and to see the river flowing freely again." 

IMAGE: Macquarie River after the raft clean up. Supplied by EPA