CEFC commits $15 million to Indigenous-led wetland restoration for carbon sequestration and biodiversity

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation has committed $15 million through Bank Australia to support the Nari Nari Tribal Council in restoring The Great Cumbung wetland in New South Wales. The project covers 34,000 hectares and focuses on rehabilitating freshwater wetlands to store carbon, improve biodiversity, and protect threatened species like the Australasian Bittern. Indigenous land management practices are central to the effort, which also includes removing floodplain barriers and regenerating native vegetation. This investment is part of a broader push by the CEFC into natural capital, with over $900 million committed to the sector. The wetland restoration is expected to deliver measurable carbon sequestration and long-term ecological benefits, while strengthening Indigenous leadership in land and water management. The project adjoins the 90,000-hectare Gayini property already managed by the Nari Nari Tribal Council, expanding Indigenous stewardship in the Murray-Darling Basin.