THE Community Water Quality Audit Project will bring researchers, scientists, recreational fishers and community leaders together to spark conversations, share knowledge and help communities take action for healthier waterways and fisheries.
An important part of the project is a series of community meetings being hosted by OzFish,
Australia’s fish habitat charity, in partnership with the NSW Recreational Fishing Trust, Southern
Cross University, DigsFish Services and the Future Fisheries Veterinary Service.
Kicking off on June 23, the tour will encompass six, two-hour evening events at regional centres
across NSW, ending with a virtual session on July 23 for those not able to attend an event in person.
The meetings will bring together leading experts to share the latest science and help communities
better understand the issues affecting their local waterways.
The event series comes at a time when water quality is increasingly in the spotlight across NSW, with fish kills, algal blooms and declining fish populations highlighting the growing pressures facing the state’s rivers, estuaries and coastal waterways.
Project leader Dr Ben Diggles from DigsFish Services, Professor Kirsten Benkendorff of Southern
Cross University, and Dr Matt Landos, Director of Future Fisheries Veterinary Service, will be
presenting the latest insights into water quality and fish populations – helping communities better
understand the challenges facing local fisheries and how they can be part of the solution.
The sessions will close out with an open floor discussion, providing community members with a
chance to contribute their unique local knowledge and experience to identify waterways most in
need of restoration.
As part of the project, people from across NSW are invited to contribute by completing the online
Water Quality Survey from 10 June to 24 July.
The survey gives people across NSW the opportunity to highlight waterways affected by poor water quality and express their interest in future citizen science and restoration activities. As an added bonus, survey participants will be entered into a draw to win one of two $100 BCF vouchers.
Dr Ben Diggles said: “Water quality is vital for the health of our fisheries, but it is an often an
overlooked factor when attempting waterway restoration. We look forward to talking with fishers,
indigenous groups and other members of regional communities who know their local waterways
best.”
“The aim of the Community Water Quality Audit Project events and survey is for us to learn more
about which waterways in NSW need our help and who is keen to help us do it.”
NSW Community Water Quality Audit Project events Sessions will run between 7:00pm and 9:00pm, and all are welcome to attend. Event registrations are encouraged and are available on the OzFish website.
23 June: SCU National Marine Science Centre – 2 Bay Drive Coffs Harbour.
24 June: Lake Macquarie Landcare – 80 Toronto Rd, Teralba.
1 July: Moruya Memorial Hall – 11 Page St, Moruya.
2 July: Wagga RSL – Corner of Kincaid and Dobbs St, Wagga Wagga
3 July: Bathurst Seymour Centre – 3/55 Seymour St, Bathurst.
22 July: West Tamworth League Club – 58 Phillip St, West Tamworth.
23 July: Virtual session.
This project is a partnership between OzFish Unlimited, DigsFish Services, Southern Cross
University, and Future Fisheries Veterinary Service, supported by the NSW Recreational
Fishing Trust, and BCF – Boating, Camping, Fishing.
