MidCoast Council will use $40,000 State government funding to restore and stabilise 350 metres of aggressively eroding riverbank on Dumaresq Island on the Manning River.
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The funding is part of $594,000 in grants to recreational angling clubs, community groups, landholders and local councils for 26 unique fish habitat projects, under the Department of Primary Industries' Habitat Action Grants Program.
MidCoast Council said its Dumaresq Island Riparian Vegetation Restoration and Bank Stabilisation Project will implement best practice riverbank stabilisation techniques - rock fillets, stock exclusion fencing, planting and weeding - to promote the regeneration of saltmarsh and mangroves along this section of the river.
Manning Landcare secured $13,607 in funding to regenerate 350m of the Manning River and 940m of its tributaries to improve fish habitat and biodiversity.
The project involves fencing these section of the river and tributaries, and the planting of 1500 native tube stock. An educational day will be held to engage community, the organisation said.
This will have flow-on benefits to local communities and tourism through improved recreational fishing opportunities.
- NSW DPI Fisheries' Cameron Lay
NSW DPI Fisheries' Cameron Lay said the grants will see major improvements to local creeks, riverbanks, wetlands and provide better access for fish, which will improve fish habitats and ultimately produce more fish.
"The range of successful projects cover many iconic coastal and inland fishing spots in NSW with over $840,000 committed as in-kind support from the successful applicants," Mr Lay said.
"It's fantastic that well over a million dollars will go into enhancing and rehabilitating fish habitats because ultimately, it's not only the fish who will benefit - valuable agricultural grazing land will be protected and water quality in our rivers will be improved.
"This will have flow-on benefits to local communities and tourism through improved recreational fishing opportunities."
Successful projects will be carried out right across NSW in areas including; Forbes, Bredbo, Narrambla, Tamworth, Cooma, Borambola, Tenterfield, Jamberoo, Narooma, Merimbula, Tathra, Berkeley, Coutts Crossing, Bowraville, Lismore, Dorroughby, Channon, Dumaresq Island, Bellbrook, Kempsey, Bankstown and Muswellbrook.
The projects include:
- Installation of 35 woody habitats (snags),
- Installation of over 12 kilometres of riparian fencing to manage stock access,
- Revegetatation of over 10 kilometres of riparian zone, planting at least 18,000 trees, shrubs and sedges,
- Controlling 35 hectares of introduced riparian weeds,
- Bank erosion control measures, and
- Wetland habitat management measures.
"Funding for these grants was provided through the Recreational Fishing Trusts, where all money raised by the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee are placed into the Recreational Fishing Trusts and spent on improving recreational fishing in NSW," Mr Lay said.
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