Lake Cakora on the Clarence Coast, northern NSW

IMAGE: The Guardian

In July 2020 Clarence Valley amateur photographer Derry Moroney used a drone to follow the water upstream from the estuary at Brooms Head to Lake Cakora in Yuraygir National Park.

He captured stunning images of arboreal-like drainage channels in Lake Cakora. ‘The tea trees along the banks colour the water running off into the lake after a big storm,’ he says, describing the patterns as ‘like a tree of life’.

See @derry_moroney_photography on Instagram.

A Clarence Valley Infocus Competiton 2019 winner

There were five winners in the 2019 Clarence Valley Infocus Competiton.

The photograph of one of those winners, Samantha Clarke of South Grafton, caught the eye of The Daily Examiner on 14 February 2020:

"Yuraygir Phoenix"

This photograph was taken on the September 2019 fireground near Brooms Head in the Lower Clarence Valley.

All five winners will be showcased as part of the plunge Art and Culture festival at the Grafton Regional Gallery and Ferry Park in Maclean during April 2020.

Bushfire forces temporary part closure of Yuraygir National Park in the Clarence Valley

Department of Planning, Industry and Environment & NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, media release, 18 September 2019: 

Bushfire forces temporary part closure of Yuraygir National Park

Following last week's destructive bushfires part of the Yuraygir National Park, including a section of the iconic Yuraygir Coastal Walk are temporarily closed. 

A National Parks and Wildlife Services spokesperson said 6600 hectares of private property and 4000 hectares of Yuraygir National Park burned in the Shark Creek 2 fire. 

"The walking track from Mara Creek Picnic Area, just south of Angourie to Lake Arragan is closed while the site is being managed," the spokesperson said. 

"Mara Creek Picnic Area and Shelley Headland Camping Areas are also closed. 

"The rest of the Yuraygir Coastal Walk, from Lake Arragan to Red Rock remains open. 

"Angourie Bay Picnic Area and all other visitor areas within Yuraygir National Park are still accessible to the public." 

"Unfortunately, the fire damage extended to the toilets, a bridge, numerous elevated walkways, signs, picnic tables, seating, fencing, bollards, staircases and drainage structures across the park," the spokesperson said. 

"NPWS will continue to assess the damage and address safety hazards including burnt structures and trees as a priority. 

"We're urging the public to put safety first and to be patient until works to repair damage commence. 

"The damage is significant and will take some time to restore. 

"In the meantime, we're investigating temporary solutions to allow the public access to the park. 

We will keep everyone informed of these decisions once they are made."

"We'd like to acknowledge the work of the NPWS and RFS (Rural Fire Service) crews who worked tirelessly with significant support from dozers and aircraft to contain the fire."

ENDS