A century ago, people could step across the Wallamore anabranch, but the build up of Taminda and West Tamworth,  the realignment of the Peel River and the addition of a weir have all lead to ongoing bank erosion.

The property of Wallamore Landcare chair David Gowing backs onto the anabranch. In the last 15 years he’s seen the bank eroded by about 50 metres, leaving part of his fence line hanging over an abyss.

“Eventually there would be no land between here and the Peel,” Mr Gowing said.

Landcare Australia will coordinate a three-year project to stabilise the bank along nine kilometres of the waterway.

The $1.2m rehabilitation was made possible by the contribution of the federal government, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Landcare Australia, North-West Local Land Service and Tamworth Regional Council.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said he had to “pull in a few favours in Canberra” to provide more than $630,000 for the project, but it was worth it.

“They’re not making any more agricultural land,” the New England MP said.

“One unique thing about Tamworth is our agricultural land goes right into our city precinct.” 

The rehabilitation has been years in the making – Mr Gowing said there were times when he wasn’t sure if it was going to happen.

DPI conservation manager Milly Hobson has been on the ground organising the massive project since day one and said it was “unbelievable” to see the project finally start.

Head of Landcare services Shane Norrish said the project had been designed with the utmost care.

“This is not the type of project you want to rush into until everything is right,” Dr Norrish said. Along with lining the embankment with rocks and various earthworks, more than 20,000 native seedlings will be planted to stabilise the bank.