Fish habitat set to improve in Barwon-Darling River

A resnagging program will commence in the coming months in the Brewarrina to Bourke Demonstration Reach (Barwon-Darling River) to improve fish habitat, the Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald announced today.

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) in collaboration with the Western Catchment Management Authority is undertaking the resnagging work, which will involve the reintroduction of at least 204 large woody habitats (snags) across 11 sites in the 207 km demonstration reach.

"Resnagging is proposed to increase the loading of large woody habitat at sites where the presence of snags is currently very low or devoid," Mr Macdonald said.

"River users, boat operators, landholders and other interested people are invited to attend two community consultation meetings to discuss resnagging plans and address any associated issues.

"The cooperation of local communities has been invaluable to the success of the resnagging projects."

The meetings will be held at Brewarrina on Wednesday 12 March at 6 pm at the Hotel Brewarrina; and at Bourke on Thursday 13 March at 6 pm at the Port of Bourke Hotel.

NSW DPI Conservation Manager Aquatic Habitat Rehabilitation, David Cordina, said snags provide important habitat for native fish.

"The presence of wood in stream environments is essential for the completion of the lifecycles of many species of native fish providing refuge and shelter, feeding and spawning sites" he said. 

"Once an important trade route for river boats, in the past the Barwon-Darling River had thousands of tonnes of snags removed for ease of navigation." 

Removal of snags from NSW rivers has been listed as a key threatening process under the Fisheries Management Act 1994 because of its negative impacts on several threatened or vulnerable species.

These species include the endangered ecological community of the lowland catchment of the Darling River; silver perch (vulnerable); western populations of olive perchlet and purple-spotted gudgeon and the river snail.

"We are excited about the prospect of having a healthier native fish community in the Barwon-Darling River and urge people to come along to the meetings to find out more about the resnagging program," Mr Cordina said.