TEN years ago, Matt Hansen and Mick O’Neill created the Inland Waterways Rejuvenation Association and have since run numerous educational and media campaigns, and established one of Australia’s biggest annual fishing competitions – the Lake Burrendong Classic. This event attracts hundreds of participants and raises tens of thousands of dollars to rehabilitate local waterways.
About two years ago, they bought a bus to transport Work for the Dole scheme participants to and from river-restoration sites. Since then, dozens of unemployed people have planted 7000 trees, weeded and removed rubbish from riparian zones, put snags into rivers and installed awareness signage. Several of the ‘River Repair Bus’ workers have moved on to full-time jobs.
Click HERE to read the full article in FRDC’s magazine FISH.
