Rehabilitate the rivers and creeks

Is there a creek, river or estuary that you think could do with some rehabilitation? If the answer is yes then you’ll be happy to learn that there is over half a million dollars available, with grants up to $40,000 for fishing clubs, community groups, local councils and individuals with project ideas that will enhance and rehabilitate degraded recreational fish habitat.

Scott Nichols, NSW Department of Primary Industries’ (DPI) Fisheries Manager said: ‘This is a great opportunity to improve local creek, river, estuaries or surrounding areas to promote healthy waterways and to encourage more fish.’

Previous funded projects include removing invasive weeds and re-establishing native vegetation on our riverbanks; restoring and stabilising eroded river banks; re-snagging waterways; and removing barriers to fish movement by improving road crossings or weirs.

‘Rehabilitation of fish habitat provides long-term sustainable benefits for native fish stock and in turn provides substantial benefits for NSW recreational fishers,’ Mr Nichols said.

‘This program is a great example of how recreational fishing fees are helping to support more healthy productive fisheries in NSW.’

Mr Nichols said since 2009, the recreational fishing trusts have invested over $4 million into the Habitat Action Grants program which has attracted significant additional investment of over $12 million in-kind and cash contributions delivering substantial outcomes on-ground for native fish habitat in NSW.

Applications for Habitat Action Grants open from 31 July 2017 until 18 September 2017. For more information about the program, application forms and examples of past projects visit here or contact a Department of Primary Industries Fisheries manager on (02) 6626 1396 (coastal) or (02) 6881 1216 (inland).