Australasian Riverprize

Winner: Whangawehi Stream | New Zealand

The Whangawehi stream is at risk of faecal contamination from stock and sedimentation from farmland. In the past, the stream has suffered from a lack of riparian habitats for bird and fish life. Under a community led catchment management plan, the Whangawehi Catchment Management Group (WCMG) has been helping farmers to establish native trees along the river and undertake pest control measures. Learn more here

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Finalists:

Parramatta River Catchment Group | Parramatta River, Australia
Laidley Creek Restoration Project | Laidley Creek, Australia

Winner: Murray River | Australia

The Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority received the Australian Riverprize for its long-term commitment to integrated river basin management, including Aboriginal involvement, equitable government relationships and international partnerships. The Ngarrindjeri’s Kungun Ngarrindjeri Yunnan Agreement (KNYA) established a new and positive relationship between the Ngarrindjeri and the South Australian Government, which has seen an innovative and integrated approach to river basin management for the Murray. Learn more here

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Finalists:

Lake Mealup Recovery Program | Lake Mealup, Australia
Macquarie River Smart Initiative | Macquarie River, Australia

Winner: Aorere River | New Zealand

The Aorere River Initiative won the New Zealand Riverprize in 2015, which was sponsored by the Morgan Foundation.

The Aorere River Initiative is a farmer-led catchment project aimed at improving the river following serious bacterial contamination from dairy farms in the region. The Initiative has not only improved the ecological health of the river and coastal environment but also helped to created community cohesion between dairy farmers and marine farmers—whose mussel and cockle farms are directly impacted by the state of the river. Learn more here

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Finalists:

Waikato Regional Council | Lake Taupo, New Zealand
Manawatu River Leaders Accord | Manawatu River, New Zealand
Auckland Council | Project Twin Streams, New Zealand

Winner: Lake Eyre Basin Partnership | Lake Eyre Basin, Australia

The Lake Eyre Basin Partnership successfully implemented two decades of river protection through extensive engagement, collaboration and action. The Lake Eyre Basin is one of the last naturally free-flowing river basins in the world, occupying a large part of semi-arid Australia including parts of three states and one territory. It supports diverse human communities and outstanding cultural and natural outcomes. Watch video here

Finalists:

Cape to Cape Catchments Group | Margaret River, Australia
Greening Australia Capital Region | Boorowa River, Australia
SERCUL | Bannister Creek, Australia

Winner: Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority | Glenelg River, Australia

The Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority received the 2013 Australian Riverprize for demonstrating success over a decade through community supported river restoration activities; and providing leadership to bring the Glenelg River to a higher standard of health. Farming families, conservation groups and industry have all rallied together to construct 1600km of fencing, plant over 500,000 trees and directly seed 770km of waterways frontage to protect the river. Watch video here

Finalists:

Gunditj Murring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation | Lake Condah, Australia
Tweed Shire Council | Tweed River, Australia

Winner: Condamine Alliance | Condamine River, Australia

Determined to ‘bring the fish back’, Condamine Alliance developed a strategic plan for river rehabilitation in the catchment and led a revival mission along sections of the Reach since 2006. Underpinning this strategy was a commitment to strong community and indigenous engagement and a shared a vision with partners to increase native fish populations to 60% of pre-European settlement levels by 2050. Watch video here

Finalists:

Georges River Combined Council Committee | Geroges River, Australia
Swan River Trust | Swan and Canning River, Australia

Winner: Sunshine Coast District Council & Partners | Sunshine Coast, Australia

The Sunshine Coast Rivers Initiative is underpinned by an active and environment-conscious community wanting to become a sustainable region – vibrant, green, diverse.  The Council is progressively integrating this philosophy of sustainability into its new planning scheme, policy framework and operations, and since 2001, has held a strong foundation for catchment management. Watch video here

Finalist:

Project Catalyst (Coca-Cola, WWF and Reef Catchments NRM) | Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia

Winner: Derwent Estuary Program | Derwent Estuary, Australia

The Derwent Estuary, Tasmania, has been recognised for excellence in reducing water pollution, conserving habitats and species, monitoring river health and promoting greater use and enjoyment of the foreshore. The Derwent Estuary Program is a partnership between the Tasmanian State Government, six local councils, five major industry and commercial businesses, scientists and the community to restore the Derwent estuary. Since establishment in 1999, over $100 million has been invested in environmental projects, and the Derwent is showing signs of recovery. During the past five years, there has been an 80% reduction in organic inputs, 50% reduction in heavy metals, and 30% reduction in sewage-derived nutrients in the estuary, as well as improvements in stormwater treatment. Watch video here

Finalists:

Cooks River Foreshores Working Group | Cooks River, Australia
Lake Illawarra Authority | Lake Illawarra, Australia
Mallee Catchment Management Authority | Hattah Lakes, Australia

Winner: Oxley Creek Catchment Association | Oxley Creek, Australia

The Oxley Creek Catchment Association (OCCA)’s outstanding industry partnership projects meant it engaged with a variety of industries in the catchment in order to protect the catchment of Oxley Creek from pollution and degradation.

OCCA has been successful in cultivating industry partnership projects as a result of its recognition of the key role industries have in our catchments, and as such endeavouring to protect the natural values of the Oxley Creek Catchment while at the same time recognising and mitigating other existing pressures from development and infrastructure.

Finalists:

Corangamite Catchment Management Authority | Great Ocean Road estuaries, Australia
Mallee Catchment Management Authority | Potterwalkagee Creek, Australia
Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee | Wilson Inlet, Australia

Winner: Lake Macquarie Project Management Committee | Lake Macquarie, Australia

The Lake Macquarie Improvement Project became the 2008 Australian Riverprize winner for its Priority Action Plan that was developed as an integrated approach to address catchment issues and with a strong emphasis on long-term sustainability and community involvement to encourage a positive change in behaviour. A strong commitment to treating the cause of the waterway problems originating within the catchment, rather than treating the symptoms displayed within the estuary itself, is at the core of the project. The project has shown significant improvement in lake health, reduction in algae, an increase in seagrass coverage and rehabilitation of foreshore and once endangered wetlands. Watch video here

Finalists:

Derwent Estuary Program | Derwent Estuary, Australia
Healthy River Program & Swan River Trust | Swan Canning River System, Australia
Tweed Shire Council | Tweed River, Australia

Winner: Murray Wetlands Working Group | Murray Wetlands, Australia

The Murray Wetlands Working Group (MWWG)’s innovative wetland rehabilitation program was chosen for successfully delivering 75,000 Ml of water to more than 200 wetlands covering 71,000 ha across two catchments. A distinct feature of the project is that “a number of local governments, industry organisations and community groups in The Murray and Lower Murray-Darling catchments worked together to rehabilitate wetlands on private properties which are often overlooked yet are vital to landscape management”, said Professor Paul Greenfield, AO, Chair of the Riverprize judging panel. Watch video here

Finalists:

Greening Australia River Recovery Program | Nationwide, Australia
Maroochy Shire Council | Maroochy River, Australia
Lake Macquarie Project Management Committee | Lake Macquarie, Australia

Michael has over 30 years’ experience across the resources & industrial industries in Australia, Asia, Africa and the Americas. Prior to being appointed to the joint role of Executive Chair and CEO of Thiess, Michael was the CEO of ASX listed CIMIC Group, responsible for leading Sedgman, UGL, CPB Contractors, Leighton Asia and Thiess. He joined Thiess in 1998, starting as a Project Manager, and has held leadership and operational roles in the mining, construction and services sector, giving him expertise across operations, technical, commercial and strategy.

Michael is a highly regarded and innovative leader focused on delivering value to clients and inspiring operational excellence by building strong, safe and performance-driven teams. He serves as a Director of the Minerals Council of Australia and the Sustainable Minerals Institute.

He holds a Bachelor of Engineering Civil from the University of Sydney and a Master of Engineering Science from the University of New South Wales.