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A significant build-up of hazardous and man-made debris is being removed by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) from Ghinni Ghinni Creek near Taree, following severe storms and flooding caused by heavy rainfall in May.
The debris has formed what's known as a 'raft' – a floating mass of storm-related waste and vegetation containing chemical drums, animal carcasses, and silage bales. Ghinni Ghinni Creek is a tidal waterway about nine kilometres long on the Mid North Coast, connecting the Manning and Lansdowne rivers.
EPA Executive Director of Regulatory Practice and Services, Steve Beaman, said the EPA is leading the clean-up which will focus on a one kilometre stretch of the Creek.
"We're taking several measures to restore the waterway, using specialist contractors who have begun removing priority and bulky waste," Mr Beaman said.
"Removing man-made debris and animal carcasses is essential to the health of the creek and protection of the environment. We're acting quickly to help return the area to a safe, natural state.
"Ghinni Ghinni Creek supports a wide range of species, and we're carrying out water quality testing to monitor contaminants and oxygen levels to help the recovery of aquatic habitats. This work will also support safe fishing and recreational uses of the creek into the future.
"Where possible, we're also sorting and recycling debris to reduce landfill and support a more sustainable recovery effort."
EPA officers are overseeing the operation to ensure the priority waste is safely transported to the appropriate disposal or storage facilities.
Mr Beaman said EPA staff are carefully assessing what debris needs to be removed to deliver the best environmental outcomes.
"We're making good progress and, in some cases, especially around mangroves, it's often safer and more beneficial to leave natural debris in place to avoid damaging fragile habitats," he explained.
"Ghinni Ghinni Creek has been a difficult site to access due to the scale of the debris and its location. It's pleasing to see clean-up efforts now underway, and we're committed to completing this work safely and effectively."
The Ghinni Ghinni Creek operation is part of the EPA's Shoreline Clean Up Program tackling flood debris in waterways across the region.
Specialist marine contractors have assisted efforts across multiple public waterways, including the Manning, Hastings, and Nambucca rivers.
To date, around 976 cubic metres of debris has been collected through the program, including approximately 730 silage bales, 174 carcasses and over 900 chemical containers.
As part of the NSW Government's broader storm response and recovery, around 36,000 cubic metres of waste has been delivered to temporary emergency waste storage sites— the equivalent of about 15 Olympic swimming pools. Landfills have received more than 26,000 tonnes of disaster waste to date.
