Background

The Hawkesbury Nepean River system is under significant stress. Water extraction, catchment development, and contaminated runoff have resulted in excessive weed growth, algal blooms and elevated levels of pollutants.

The Australian Government, through its Water for the Future Program, has funded a Hawkesbury Nepean River Recovery Package to improve the health of the River. The Package aims to increase environmental flows and reduce nutrients entering the River system.

The Package includes various components that will be co-ordinated by state & local government agencies. Industry & Investment NSW (formerly NSW Department of Primary Industries) is working with the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority to implement the NutrientSmart Farms and WaterSmart Farms project components from 2009 - 2011. Both projects are working with landholders in the Hawkesbury Nepean catchment below the major water supply dams (see map). Due to the many synergies between the two projects they are being delivered together, and are known collectively as the Smart Farms projects.

Smart Farms Project Area

The Smart Farms Projects

Aquatic weeds covering the Hawkesbury River at Windsor, October 2008 (Photo: Rebecca Coventry)

NutrientSmart Farms & WaterSmart Farms are working with landholders in the project area to improve nutrient management and water use efficiency.

The projects aim to help landholders improve production efficiency and reduce costs, reduce the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus entering waterways and achieve water savings.

To achieve this a series of FREE training programs covering various nutrient and water management topics are being held. Landholders can also apply for GRANTS to undertake on-ground nutrient and water management works on their farms.

Contact

Smart Farms officers are available to assist with any enquiry about the project. Bilingual officers are also available to assist landholders in Chinese, Vietnamese & Arabic interpretations.

For more information on any aspect of Smart Farms, to register your interest in the projects, or to arrange a site visit by a Smart Farms officer, please contact the Smart Farms Information Line on 4588 2118.

The Hawkesbury-Nepean River Recovery Program is funded by the Australian Government through the Water for the Future program. Supplementary funding for the WaterSmart Farms project has been provided by the NSW Government through its Climate Change Fund.