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Bottle Bend, Mildura

The need for more habitat within the Murray Darling Basin is critical. The restoration activities undertaken within Bottle Bend Reserve are just another way OzFish and community partners are working towards a healthy, vibrant and more productive fishery.

2km of fence

installed

Invasive weeds

removed

Community carp events

Held

OzFish’s involvement in restoring Bottle Bend Reserve first commenced in 2018, with new habitat installed in June 2023.

The reserve boasts 10km of Murray River frontage, a large billabong, and 3km of creek that connects the billabong to the Murray River.

the largest river in Australia

The Murray River is part of the Murray-Darling Basin and among the most tightly regulated rivers in the world. Irrigation water from the basin contributes about 40% of the agricultural production of the country, worth an estimated $24 billion annually. In short, the Murray River and its northern tributaries are the workhorses of Australian Rivers.

Homes for fish

Native fish require healthy environments and diversity of submerged structures to provide the right habitat conditions for maintaining sustainable populations. Native fish often move between different habitats to access resources, at various stages in their lifecycle.

Partnerships build partnerships

OzFish and Bottle Bend Management Committee have carried out fish habitat and environmental restoration in both the reserve and the Murray River. This has included track maintenance, installing vital rocky and woody habitats, running family friendly events and installing riparian fencing.

Supported by the River Repair Bus

Weekly drop ins to the reserve by the River Repair Bus provides constant inspection and awareness of the reserve, including major issues like road access, tree safety and major rubbish dumplings. A drive through by the River Repair Bus also allows constant rubbish collection and weed control.

LATEST NEWS

27 November 2023 | Bottle Bend Reserve volunteers rewarded for years of hard work at Community Achievement Awards

Three years ago, OzFish and Landcare teamed up to make waterway health in NSW a priority and now some of the local groups are being awarded for their continuous efforts. Bottle Bend Landcare Group’s partnership with OzFish Unlimited has been rewarded at the NSW Gala Community Achievement Awards.  The Bottle Bend Reserve Committee of Management has finished runner-up after being nominated as a finalist at the NSW/ACT-2023 Community Achievement Awards presentation at the Sydney Masonic Centre on November 25. 

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16 SEPTEMBER 2020 | Bottle Bend Reserve To Get New Fence For Fish

OzFish Unlimited, Australia’s fishing conservation charity is set to support NSW Western Landcare Group-Bottle Bend Reserve managers in fish habitat action. The local groups will install a two-kilometre fence around the border of a vital riparian corridor along the Murray River to protect the riparian landscape including cultural values and provide designated river access points. The fence will additionally protect the establishment of native trees and shrubs that are scheduled to be planted in 2021 by the two groups. OzFish Project Manager for the Murray-Darling Basin, Braeden Lampard has been supporting Bottle Bend Reserve group and Sunraysia OzFish in this work and believes that it is important that these sensitive, vital areas are managed ...

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OzFish is a community working together with all levels of government, businesses, and other like-minded groups to create a brighter future for fishing. By collaborating in this way we ensure greater impact to protect the species and habitats that sustain and inspire us.

Some of our project partners over the years who have contributed to restoring Bottle Bend Reserve include: