Tweed River supercharged fish habitat installed

OzFish Unlimited and Tweed Shire Council have improved native fish habitat with erosion stabilisation work on farmland close to where Dunbible Creek joins the Tweed River.

The Tweed Shire Council project, just two kilometres upstream from Murwillumbah, was partially funded by the NSW Environmental Trust and initiated in partnership with OzFish Unlimited, Australia’s only fishing conservation charity, with support from their major partner BCF – Boating, Camping Fishing.

A series of rock and log structures have been installed to replicate naturally occurring snags, and five ‘fish hotel’ units are being placed into a small embayment within the site.

Work has been undertaken over a bank length of about 600 metres, some of which was severely eroded during the flooding after Cyclone Debbie. The project will stabilise erosion and replace native riparian vegetation with a strong emphasis on enhancing fish habitat.

OzFish Tweed River Chapter President, Simon Fitzpatrick said the work will have benefit the picturesque estuary.

“We’re thrilled that Tweed Shire Council is undertaking this work with fish habitat high on their list of objectives. The Tweed River has long been in need of bank and fish habitat restoration and we are more than pleased to be able to work with Tweed Shire Council to help improve fish habitat and fishing for our local river, the Bass are going to love it.”

The next stage of the project will be revegetation. As soon as the time is right, OzFish volunteers will join with Council staff to plant 1000 trees across the site.

OzFish Unlimited CEO Craig Copeland said its members have been interested in this work for some time.

“Our fishers are keen to volunteer their time to improve fishing in their local Tweed River. And our major partner BCF is pleased to be supporting local fish habitat restoration projects like these. We’d like to thank council for giving us that opportunity.

“There is more to be done and we’re calling on local rec fishers to get involved and join the local OzFish Chapter.

“Discover where this fantastic fish habitat is placed, get involved in local fish habitat planning, tilapia buster events or get in and plant a tree that will support your local fish for future generations.”

OzFish Unlimited and Council would like to acknowledge the support and contribution of the landowner at this site, without whose care for the river, hard work and support the project would have not been undertaken.

Tweed Shire Council have identified the reach upstream of Murwillumbah as the best opportunity for large scale riparian restoration within the entire Tweed Estuary, and Mr Fitzpatrick said he hopes that similar projects will be undertaken throughout the Tweed.

“This is the first of three projects that we are collaborating with Council on, it’s a great example of what can be achieved through the partnership,” said Mr Fitzpatrick.