Bottle Bend
Fencing to protect
frontage values including more than 25 scar trees from Coolamons to canoes
Access
to traditional camping site with direct floodplain access and associated with other projects improved track condition
Protection
of Blackbox and redgum vegetation communities’ regeneration post floods of 2022 & 2023
River enhancing achievements
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.
Bottle Bend reserve is a 1600-hectare nature reserve on the Murray River, south of the Sturt Highway near Monak. The reserve contains significant black box (Eucalyptus largiflorens) woodlands and wetland vegetation and is a place where travellers and locals can enjoy the riverine environment of the Murray River, with camping sites, picnic tables, walking tracks and a boat ramp.
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Braeden Lampard – Senior Program Manager said “Bottle Bend Reserve has special significance in the local landscape socially, culturally and environmentally”.
“For locals, the reserve is a much sought-after access point to the Murray River. We are proud to be able to support groups like this to take ownership, we see it as a shared responsible and know that together we can achieve more. If it means improving the environment for native fish – we’re also 100 per cent onboard.”
Forward Momentum
Now moving into the fourth year, OzFish and Bottle Bend Reserve Committee of Management have set out to manage vital riparian zones by installing a riparian fence (up to $3,500 worth). The Sunraysia River Repair Bus also undertakes fortnightly maintenance of riparian weeds and will assist with two community engagement events for World Wetlands Day Celebration and a catch a carp day.
Removing riparian weeds will enhance the stability of the bank, improve the water quality, reduce the effects of localised drought and increase food sources for aquatic species.
