LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS FIGHTING FOR LOCAL WATERWAYS
Five streams, gullies and rivers in the Tamworth Electorate are set for some tender love and care thanks to funding from the NSW Government’s Habitat Action Grants program.
Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson said the funding was good reward for local volunteers who had been keen to see fish habitat restored in some of the region’s key rivers, streams, and gullies.
“Inland rivers are a huge part of the history and culture of regional communities, and it is so important that we do everything we can to maintain them and bring them back to life,” Mr Anderson said.
“The work these community groups and organisations do achieves real results. You only have to look at the platypus population in the Peel or cast a line into the Macdonald to see the results of years-long campaigns to revitalise our waterways.
“Thank you to our committed volunteers and community groups for the amazing work they do to revitalise our rivers, streams and gullies, ensuring they’re healthy for generations to come.”
Habitat Action Grants are funded from the Recreational Fishing Trusts, which are funded by the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee. This year, 33 projects were funded across NSW, totalling $780,191 including the five local projects below:
|
Project |
Overview |
Organisation |
Habitat Action Grants funding |
|
Mooki River Fish Passage and Riparian Rehabilitation |
Landcare Australia will undertake riparian habitat works on the Mooki River, which aim to improve water quality, habitat and access to the upper reaches of the river by removing impediments to fish passage. |
Landcare Australia |
$39,890 |
|
Macdonald River Rehabilitation |
The group is removing black willows, privet, blackberries, box elders and silver poplars and revegetating with native trees and grasses, to enhance the opportunity for recreational fishers to access the river and improve the fish habitat. |
Macdonald River Restoration Group |
$35,704.42 |
|
Trelawney Riparian Zone Restoration, Peel River |
The project will extend on previous riparian plantings on Trelawney and partner with Trelawney’s southern neighbour to plant their riverbank, An Aboriginal Rangers team will lead planting on both properties. |
Tamworth Local Aboriginal Lands Council |
$3,627.27 |
|
Rocky Gully Bank Stabilisation and Revegetation |
2.9km of Rocky Gully will be fenced off, woody weeds including willow, privet and blackberries will be removed, and 5.5ha revegetated with native plant species. |
Gunnalong Grazing Partnership |
$35,000 |
|
Currabubula Creek Fish Habitat |
The project aims to strategically control invasive woody weeds in the Currabubula Creek to promote natural regeneration of native plant species and supplementary backfill planting to improve fish habitat and increase biodiversity withing the waterway and adjacent riparian areas. |
Tim Duncan – Environmental contractor |
$12,615 |
Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders says the grants fund practical, on-ground rehabilitation works for fish habitats, including managing stock access to waterways, revegetating native plants, reintroducing large woody habitat and bank stabilization works.
“Every year we receive truly unique and positive applications and the best thing about these grants is that they are ideas conceived and led by locals, both on the coast and inland,” Mr Saunders said.
“We see applications from recreational fishers to community groups, Councils, private landholders and natural resource managers, and these are people who know their local waterways better than anyone.”
The next round of the Habitat Action Grants program is officially open for people to come forward and apply.
A total of $850,000 is on offer for the 2022/23 round of projects, with applications open until 23 September 2022.
Since 2008, the Recreational Fishing Trusts have invested over $8 million into the Habitat Action Grants program.
For more information visit www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/hag.