Habitat funding helps open up the River Road for fish
A causeway across Nelligen Creek, at Nelligen near Batemans Bay, identified as the second highest priority road crossing barrier to fish in the Southern Rivers region, has been upgraded to improve fish access to 11 kilometres of upstream habitat.
"Works are now complete on a new two-celled box-culvert section of The River Road causeway thanks to funding from the Federal Government through the Bringing Back the Fish project and from recreation fishing licence fees through the NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts," said Scott Nichols, Conservation Manager with NSW Industry and Investment.
"Eurobodalla Shire Council has installed two box culverts next to the existing pipe culverts to reduce water speeds and allow fish to move upstream more freely.
"NSW Industry and Investment identified the causeway as the second highest priority road crossing site in the Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority region.
"Narrow pipes under the causeway created high water speeds at high tide and in floods, making it difficult for fish to move into the upstream habitat."
Mr Nichols said more than two thirds of coastal fish species including Australian bass and freshwater mullet need to move to different habitat as part of their life cycle.
"Restricting fish passage prevents these fish from accessing required breeding grounds and re-populating upstream waterways, resulting in reduced fish populations," he said.
Charlotte Jenkins, coordinator of the NSW Recreational Fishing Trust funded Habitat Action Program, said the Nelligen Creek project was a fantastic example of how fees raised from recreational fishing licences are being put back into habitat projects, ultimately benefitting recreational fishing.
"Its the habitat that makes fish happen," she said.
"Funding is now available for people who want to do a similar habitat project to improve the health of fish habitat in rivers, creeks or wetlands in NSW and help make more fish," she said.
Grants of up to $30,000 are available for fish habitat projects which benefit recreational fishing.
For more information on the River Road project contact Scott on 8437 4909 or scott.nichols@dpi.nsw.gov.au
For more information on the Habitat Action grants contact Charlotte on 6626 1107 or charlotte.jenkins@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Digital pictures are available of the crossing before and after the works.
Further reading
Media contact: Phil Bevan 0429 458 053