Neilly Group partnered with Terrain NRM on their submission to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation (GBRF) to provide design and construct services at two gully and streambank erosion sites within the Herbert River catchment for their sediment reduction project. Terrain NRM were successful in their application and Neilly Group undertook the design and construction of both sites. The larger of the two sites was located on the Lower Herbert River near Abergowrie, upstream of the town of Ingham. The site consisted of significant erosion of the inside bank of the Herbert River, with a likely meander cut-off underway.
Neilly Group proposed to utilise a timber pile field to provide hydraulic protection to the riverbank to allow vegetation to establish and stabilise the site in the long term. Neilly Group completed the construction of the site in November this year, with approximately 4,000 native trees to be planted in March/April next year when conditions are ideal. The site involved bank battering and the installation of 479 timber piles which extended from the channel bed at the toe of bank and up onto the floodplain. Neilly Group will also undertake 12 months of revegetation maintenance to ensure the revegetation works are a success. The photographs shown below are of the works immediately after completion of construction, with revegetation works yet to be completed.
