OVERGROWN COCKBURN RIVER CAUSING LANDHOLDERS CONCERN
An overgrown section of Tamworth’s Cockburn River is causing concern for landholders.
The river, which flows into the Peel, has been choked by a build up of debris.
Irrigator Ian Coxhead, fears the blockage could cause major problems when the region faces its next flood.
“What that does to our environment and our properties is going to be an absolute disaster, because this river is one of the fastest-flowing in inland Australia.”
Mr Coxhead also believes the problem could cause fish kills.
He’s been in communication with the State Government since December, but says the problem is yet to be resolved.
“We’ll see riverbank erosion to a scale we’ve never seen before. It’s going to make the water quality absolutely murky and muddy and we’ll probably see fish die, because they’ll have no oxygen.”
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