Re-snagging being undertaken on the Nepean River by Penrith City Council, funded by the 2019/20 Habitat Action Grants.
The Habitat Action Grants are funded from the Recreational Fishing Trusts which direct revenue generated by the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee towards onground actions to improve fish habitat and recreational fishing in NSW.
Angling clubs, individuals, community groups, local councils and organisations interested in rehabilitating fish habitats in freshwater and saltwater areas throughout NSW can apply for grants of up to $40,000.
Habitat rehabilitation projects which may be funded include:
The 2023 Habitat Action Grants have now open until 5pm 29 September 2023.
The below guidelines provide essential information for all applicants seeking funding from the NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts in 2023.
For further information refer to the Habitat Action Grants Guidelines
This year's Habitat Action Grant funding application forms:
You MUST contact one of the following DPI staff to discuss your project and ensure applications are consistent with priorities for funding. They may also be able to provide assistance with completing your application.
Regions | Contact | Phone | |
---|---|---|---|
Border Rivers, Gwydir & Namoi | David Ward | david.ward@dpi.nsw.gov.au | (02) 6763 1255 |
Central West, Central Tablelands & Western | Joe Brennan | joseph.brennan@dpi.nsw.gov.au | 0456 643 571 |
Murray, Riverina & Murrumbidgee | Alison McLean | alison.mclean@dpi.nsw.gov.au | 0484 907 343 |
North Coast |
Hayley Leczkowski Charlotte Jenkins | hayley.leczkowski@dpi.nsw.gov.au charlotte.jenkins@dpi.nsw.gov.au |
0436 002 524 0407 154 320 |
Lake Macquarie-Mid Coast | Cherie Colyer-Morris | cherie.colyer-morris@dpi.nsw.gov.au | 0472 713 714 |
Randwick - Lake Macquarie | Karthika Krishna Pillai | karthika.krishnapillai@dpi.nsw.gov.au | 0456 985 908 |
Wollondilly, Blue Mountains & Southern Sydney Metro | Jess Hyland | jess.hyland@dpi.nsw.gov.au | 0455 794 560 |
South Coast & Southern Tablelands | Jillian Keating Mick Bettanin | 0427 129 506 0438 293 747 |
For further information and general enquiries, please contact Milly Hobson - Habitat Action Grants Administrator via email fish.habitat@dpi.nsw.gov.au or ring (02) 6763 1206.
For successful applicants there is a requirement to report on the project's progress as milestones are met, at the projects completion, and annually following a completion of on-ground works for projects where there is an ongoing maintenance period.
Milestone payment requests should also be accompanied by a Progress report. At the end of a project, a Final report is required to be submitted with an expenditure statement and purchase receipts. This report needs to be approved prior to a final project payment.
There may also be times when a report is requested outside the payment schedule. All Progress reports and Final reports should be accompanied by photographs showing project progress/completion. Please use the reporting forms below if you have been successful in gaining funding through the Habitat Action Grant program. Files should be labelled following the guide in the filenames (using example project name "Fresh creek rehabilitation" by Richmond Valley Landcare):
Year | Funded |
---|---|
2021-2022 | Thirty-three projects were funded in the 2021-2022 Habitat Action Grants, totalling more than $780,000 with applicants providing more than $1,140,000 of in-kind contributions. |
2020-2021 | Forty two projects were funded in the 2020-2021 Habitat Action Grants, totalling over $916,000 with applicants providing $1,422,597 of in-kind contributions. |
2019-2020 | Twenty seven projects were funded in the 2019-2020 Habitat Action Grants (PDF, 148.26 KB) totaling over $688,000 with applicants providing over $950,000 of in-kind contributions. |
2018-2019 | Twenty six projects were funded in the 2018-2019 Habitat Action Grants (PDF, 508.1 KB) totalling over $594,000 with applicants providing over $840,000 in in-kind contributions. |
2017-2018 | Twenty nine projects were funded in the 2017-2018 (PDF, 50.59 KB) Habitat Action Grants. Funding provided totals over $644,000. |
2016-2017 | Twenty-six projects were funded in the 2016-2017 Habitat Action Grants totalling over $554,000. |
2015-2016 | Thirty one projects were funded in the 2015-2016 (PDF, 102.08 KB) Habitat Action Grants totaling over $748,000. |
2014-2015 | Thirty one projects were funded in the 2014-2015 (PDF, 211.78 KB) Habitat Action Grants totaling over $575,000 |
2013-2014 | Thirty projects were funded in the 2013-2014 Habitat Action Grants totaling almost $570,000 |
2012-2013 | Twenty five projects were funded in the 2012-2013 Habitat Action Grants. These grants totalling almost $525,000. |
2011-2012 | Twenty five projects were funded in the 2011-2012 Habitat Action Grants, totalling $550,000. |
2010-2011 | Thirty-one projects were funded in the 2010-2011 (PDF, 51.56 KB) Habitat Action Grants, totalling $545,000. |
Removal or modification of barriers to fish passage
Many freshwater fish species are migratory and must move between a variety of habitats to complete essential life history stages. Even a small structure such as a concrete causeway or a pipe culvert can create a barrier such as a small waterfall or shallow flow depths and restrict fish movement. The removal of barriers such as the one on Duroby Creek in the Tweed Catchment or the modification of structures through the construction of a fishway or the remodelling of a crossing such as Locketts Crossing on the Coolongolook River can have instant benefits for fish.
Rehabilitation of riparian lands (river banks, wetlands, mangrove forests, saltmarsh)
Fish and other aquatic species prefer waterbodies with healthy, endemic riparian vegetation because the plants:
The protection of existing remnant vegetation and the rehabilitation of unhealthy riparian lands such as the project which was undertaken at Toogimbie Wetland in the Riverina or the project on the banks of Mullumbimby Creek in the Brunswick River catchment are important steps in supporting healthy fish populations.
Re-snagging waterways with timber structure
Large woody structure provides one of the most important habitats for fish within a river or creek. In some cases, numbers of native fish in a waterway are often directly related to the amount of wood. Woody structure provides protection from predators, shelter from direct sunlight, resting areas out of the main channel flow, territorial markers, breeding sites and foraging sites. Large wood in streams can also increase bank stability and reduce waterway erosion. Re-snagging a waterway which is largely devoid of woody structure such as the Molong Creek project can provide immediate benefits to fish.
Removal of exotic vegetation from waterways
Exotic vegetation such as willows, blackberries and camphor laurel invade stream banks and exclude
native vegetation, changing the structure and function of the riparian zone, creating a poor habitat for fish. Willows, for example, are deciduous, dropping their leaves all in one go. This alters the timing and quality of organic inputs in the stream, causes wide temperature variations and reduces the amount of shade and protection. An exotic vegetation management project in conjunction with revegetation of the area with endemic plant species such as the one at South Creek in St Marys, Sydney, will enhance stream health.
Bank stabilisation works
River bank erosion is a natural process however, grazing and pugging from uncontrolled livestock, loss of riparian vegetation, invasion of exotic plants, removal of instream woody structure and the excessive extraction of gravel or river sediments can all exacerbate the erosion process. Severe erosion of the river banks or stream bed can lead to an increase of sediment in the waterway which can affect water quality and when deposited can smother instream holes and fish habitat. Instream works such as those undertaken by private landholders at Pumpkin Point on the Karuah River or the more extensive works implemented by Port Macquarie Hastings Council on the Wilson River can assist in stabilising river banks and reducing erosion.
Reinstatement of natural flow regimes
Flood mitigation works such as water retention devices (eg floodgates) and drainage systems prevent flood waters or tidal waters from inundating low-lying land. In doing so, these measures can also affect natural flow regimes, restrict fish access to floodplain wetlands or upstream habitat and in some cases, expose acid sulfate soils. By working with landholders such as Fred and Chris Welsh on Micalo Island in the Clarence or local Councils such as Great Lakes at Darawakh Creek/Frogalla Swamp Wetland on the mid north coast, these structures and drainage works can be modified to reintroduce flows, alleviate issues related to acid sulfate soils and allow for fish passage whilst still ensuring private assets are protected.