Hi Macleay, Community,

There is a lot happening across the Macleay catchment right now. From fighting mining contamination to celebrating our local platypus populations, Save Our Macleay River (SOMR) has been busy advocating for our waters.

Here is the “State of the River” update for April 2026:

1. The Hillgrove Mine Threat…
2. Clybucca Wetlands: A “Vinegar” Flood
3. Council Watch: Erosion & Development
4. Celebrating the Platypus & Rakali

5. We Need Your Help: Water Testing

1. The Hillgrove Mine Threat…
We’ve lodged a formal ‘Submission of Objection’ against Hillgrove Mine’s Modification 5. This project poses a massive contamination risk to the river downstream.

• The Concern: We believe the assessment is flawed and ignores cumulative impacts from multiple mine sites.
• The Update: The mining company has hired a former Assistant Minister as a “strategic advisor”—we suspect this is a push for lenient approvals. We are watching closely.

Image from Larvotto Annual Report.

2. Clybucca Wetlands: A “Vinegar” Flood
A recent report found that the Clybucca Wetlands are the largest source of Acid Sulphate contamination in our floods.  The River is taking the equivalent of 170 Olympic swimming pools of pH3 (vinegar-level acidity) flowing into the estuary in floods.  We are currently lobbying politicians and agencies to prioritise wetland restoration to prevent this.

3. Council Watch: Erosion & Development

• Riverbank Erosion: A 2025 report shows erosion has surged since 2005. We’ve asked Kempsey Shire Council for a clear plan on how they intend to fix these priority zones. – no response to date!
• Development Control: We’ve reviewed the new Draft DCP. While some parts are okay, we’re worried that a loss of environmental staff at the Council will lead to poor monitoring of new developments. We are following this up!

4. Celebrating the Platypus & Rakali
On March 7th, we attended in Armidale to discuss the “Rights of the River.” It was a powerful afternoon hearing from Traditional Custodians and ecologists about how we can rehabilitate our headwaters to protect these iconic species.

Image, Thelma and Rainbow Serpent weaving

5. We Need Your Help: Water Testing
We’ve refreshed our field kits and are ready to test!  We can check for pH, Salts, Nitrogen, Arsenic, and more. – Do you know a freshwater site that looks contaminated?  Please reach out to us via our email saveourmacleayriver.com  We want to put our field kits to work where they are needed most.

Want to dive deeper?
Read our full Hillgrove Submission here: Hillgrove_Mod5_Final_Submission
View the Clybucca Water Quality Report: Clybucca-Water-Quality-Analysis-FINAL-OCTOBER-2025

Together, we can keep the Macleay healthy.
The SOMR Team

1. Hillgrove Mine/Larvotto Resources
2. Kempsey SC Draft Development Control Plan
3. Oven Mountain Pumped Hydro Storage proposal:  Clybucca Wetlands
4. Estuary Riverbank Assessment Report
5. Clybucca Wetlands
6. Stuarts Point Sewerage Works Proposal by KSC

Hillgrove Mine/Larvotto Resources

Hillgrove Mine’s Modification 5 to their existing DA 98/35 has been lodged with NSW Planning (DPHI)

This can be found with the link: https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/mod-5-extension-mine-life 

The Modification 5:

• Extends the life of the mine to December 2030,
• Doubles the mining and processing of ores for gold, antimony and now tungsten and ‘production’,
• Reopens old mines, adjacent Bakers Creek,
• Expands infrastructure (roading, power etc.),
• Upgrades processing plant; Proposes dry stack of tailings; and
• Proposes 24/7 365 days a year operation – along with many other matters.

Existing Mine Processing Facilities and surrounds above Bakers Creek escarpment. (looking south)

Save Our Macleay River will review the proposal’s documents and make a submission to Dept of Planning on this significant expansion and extension of the mine’s operations to prevent further impact on the Macleay River.

Kempsey SC Draft Development Control Plan

Is available for comment… Link Draft Kempsey Development Control Plan 2026 here, with physical copies available in KSC libraries and at the customer service counter.

The purpose of this DCP is to:

• Give effect to the objectives of the Kempsey Local Environmental Plan.

• Guide development that is permissible under the Kempsey Local Environmental Plan.

• Achieve the objectives of land-use zones prescribed under the Kempsey Local Environmental Plan.

• Outline Council’s requirements for new development in Kempsey.

This is a 440page document that affects how the shire will plan and accommodate various developments.  There is little in there that relates to the Macleay River, but some items may affect the water courses and estuary with potential for pollution. – SOMR is to review and comment on relevant matters affecting the river.

Oven Mountain Pumped Hydro Storage proposal: 

Alinta’s Project is in the final stages of development assessment and awaiting final planning approvals and economic feasibility assessment.  Apparently, not much is happening ‘on the ground’. 

Informed by a shareholder briefing:  Sembcorp Industries, a Singaporean company, proposes to acquire Alinta Energy, likely including the OMPHS project, via a share agreement, signed 11^th December; to be put to an Extraordinary meeting late January for shareholder approval and Completion due sometime in 2026.   – Note: This acquisition is still subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals.

Shareholder Briefing Link: https://www.sembcorp.com/creating-shareholder-value/events/proposed-acquisition-of-alinta-energy/ 

Macleay Estuary Riverbank Assessment Report

This 2025 report, by Fruition Environmental, presents the findings of the Macleay River Estuary NEAP Bank and Riparian Condition Assessment was commissioned and managed by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development – Fisheries.

The report surveyed the riverbank conditions throughout the estuary, and ranks existing erosion areas into high, medium and low levels as well as relaying sediment loads.  Analyses from this assessment are to be used to inform future management actions to improve flood resilience, estuary asset protection, and estuary health including water quality, bank stability and riparian vegetation condition.  Link https://fruitionenviro-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/damon_fruitionenviro_onmicrosoft_com/EVo_WVHmRKRNsDKWHUR8lwUBrmBm9bLV4dpiv4lcEOes2w?e=WGSuVf&CT=1768948609832&OR=Outlook-Body&CID=C1A7C579-2CC8-4E4E-84E0-D7217F00119D

SOMR is to ask KS Council, for a breakdown of the erosion control works Council has done on the Macleay River since the 2005 assessment report and an implementation plan for the recommended priority works in the 2025 report.

Clybucca Wetlands

Water Resources Laboratory (WRL) have recently completed a water quality assessment of the Clybucca Wetlands.  Link: Clybucca Wetlands Water Quality Analysis -UNSW WRL _Final .pdf 

It appears WRL were likely briefed by NSW Dept of Primary Industries and Regional Development, to prepare a ‘water quality analysis’ and note some of the impacts.  Impacts include:

• A significant flood event will produce 170 Olympic swimming pools of pH3 sulphuric acid (vinegar) into the estuary! and
• massive amounts of Low dissolved Oxygen water – ‘Blackwater’, impacting the entire estuary.

The assessment does not provide solutions for resolve.  

SOMR discussed the report,  impacts on various industries relying on clean water and the farmers ‘rights to graze’. along with management of the Menarcobrinni floodgates.  It was resolved to write to the Commissioning body, and other relevant Govt agencies, to outline the impacts in WRL’s report and advocate for salt water re-inundation; the best method to avoid the above impacts.

Stuarts Point Sewerage Works Proposal by KSC

Kempsey Sire Council’s proposal is to pipe sewerage from inputs between Grassy Head and Fishermans Reach to a Treatment plant south of Stuarts Point and then discharge the treated effluent onto the sand dunes, between the east side of the pedestrian bridge and the beach.

SOMR hastily managed to review the proposal and develop a submission to the Dept of Planning Portal by the due date.  The Submission did not object to the need for a sewerage treatment plant, as it is needed.  The submission objected to the lower level of treatment and disposal method and outlined some omissions in the proposal’s assessment. 

SOMR’s submission proposed:

• a higher level of treatment which was described as too expensive in the proposal, 
• while trenching between the residences and treatment plant, simultaneously lay ‘Recycled Water’ pipes adjacent to the sewer. 

The result being:

• ability for all to use  recycled water for non-potable purposes & irrigation, and possibly cost recover,
• lower demand of potable supply from the aquifer/bore-water, and
• eliminate impacts on the delicate dunal system and Macleay Arm environments. 

Macleay Arm, looking east toward the proposed discharge dune.