AN ENCOUNTER with a "very different river" is on offer as part of Warren's Spring Festival from October 17 to 18.
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RiverSmart's inaugural Macquarie River Paddle-a-thon will take place where the "river is much narrower and the banks are much steeper".
Chief executive officer Dr Bill Phillips said the "weir to weir" event on October 17 would extend the river experience of participants.
"We just felt people don't get to experience the other end of the river and it is very different to the Wellington-Dubbo stretch," he said.
The estimated 12 to 15 kilometre paddle from 9am to noon on October 17 is not a race.
"It's for fun and people can afford to just find out if they enjoy paddling," Dr Phillips said.
"Having done it two weeks ago, it is a very friendly paddle."
The paddle-a-thon will begin at what Warren residents call the "State Water weir" accessed off Wambianna Road.
Participants will paddle downstream to the Brian Egan Weir managed by Warren Shire Council.
Dr Phillips said the wearing of life jackets was mandatory but State Emergency Service (SES) crews would be "helping us with safety".
"Expert paddlers from Dubbo are coming to help as well by mingling with the group," he said.
RiverSmart staged a paddle-a-thon in 2009 which grew into the successful WomDomNom four-day paddle from Wellington to Narromine.
Dr Phillips hopes the Warren paddle-a-thon will get sufficient community support to run annually.
Participation costs $30 per person with the proceeds going to the further development of the Window on the Wetlands Centre at Warren.
Registration before the event is obligatory.
Go to www.riversmart.org.au to register online or download the entry form and rules.
Dr Phillips said the Rotary Club of Warren's Spring Festival was seeking to fund the construction of "two community homes at the hospital" for use by people needing to stay near its patients for long periods of time.
