Catching carp for river health in Coolah
It’s been a busy few weeks of community engagement and habitat revitalisation in Dunedoo and Coolah, with two carp musters and a tree planting in the remote NSW communities.
Saturday 11th March, OzFish supported Dunedoo-Coolah Landcare with the Dunedoo Carp Muster, which saw 144 participants catch over 400 carp from the surrounding rivers. The locals competed for prizes in a number of categories, including longest carp, most caught and best dressed, all in an effort to have fun while improving river health.
Once caught, the carp were all collected and used as fertiliser to deliver nutrients to trees and plants in the community. Removing carp from the river is important, as they are a widespread invasive fish species that can tolerate a range of environmental conditions. They contribute to poor water quality, cause erosion and impact aquatic plants due to their destructive feeding habits.
The next weekend, OzFish and Dunedoo-Coolah Landcare came together again to hold the opening of the Riverwalk in Coolah, with funding and support from the NAB Foundation, Warrumbungle Shire Council, and BCF – Boating, Camping, Fishing. The day’s activities included a carp muster and tree planting along the Coolaburragundy River.
In 2017, the town was impacted by the Sir Ivan fire, which burnt through approximately 55,000 hectares in the Warrumbungle Shire. This was followed by three years of drought, and then flooding. The Coolaburragundy River and river walk, which locals have been working on for years, is a key location for a range of recreational activities and is significant for community wellbeing.
The Coolah Carp Muster had 120 participants who caught and removed another 400 carp from the surrounding rivers, the longest measuring a massive 74cm. The afternoon included a BBQ lunch provided by the Coolah Mens Shed and planting of 180 trees and shrubs along the river. This added to the 49 trees that were planted the previous week by Sacred Heart Primary School.
The community event was a great opportunity to bring people together, celebrate triumph through adversity, and improve habitat along the Coolaburragundy River.
The opening of the Riverwalk in Coolah was run by OzFish and Dunedoo-Coolah Landcare as part of a Landcare NSW – OzFish partnership. The carp muster and tree planting is funded by the NAB Foundation, with support from BCF – Boating Camping Fishing and NSW DPI Fisheries.
