MORE than 140 logs have been used to create “fish hotels” to improve fish habitat and river bank stability in the Upper Hunter River, near Muswellbrook NSW.
Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Senior Fisheries Conservation Officer, Kylie Russell, said funds from the Commonwealth and NSW Government through the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority, were used to complete the works.
“We have constructed seven new ‘fish hotels’ in the Upper Hunter River at ‘Negoa’, near Muswellbrook using more than 140 logs,” Ms Russell said.
“The log structures will assist in stabilising eroding river banks at the site and enhance fish habitat for native species, such as Australian bass and mullet.
“The ‘fish hotels’ are constructed on the riverbank then lowered into deep water near eroding banks. They are held in place by boulders and piles driven into the river bed and are designed to be able to withstand large floods.
Fish hotels being positioned in the Hunter River.
“The ‘fish hotels’ or structures will give native fish a better fighting chance against pest species such as carp.
“This project is a team effort with logs generously provided by BHP Billiton, and Coal & Allied providing access to the priority sites. Works were managed by DPI with construction completed by the river works crew of the Soil Conservation Service and Tutt and Bryant cranes.”
Ms Russell said this is the fifth stage of a project that is designed to improve fish habitat in the Upper Hunter River.
“Overall, this project is improving fish populations in the Hunter River. It has resulted in sixteen constructed ‘fish hotels’ and 40 engineered log jams installed over the past five years in the Hunter River,” she said.
Funding opportunities for others to do similar fish habitat works will soon be available through the Recreational Fishing Trusts’ Habitat Action Grants program. For details, see the website http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/hag or contact a DPI Conservation Manager on (02) 6626 1107 or (02) 4916 3817.
