MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall is urging local councils, individuals and community groups across the region wanting to improve fish habitat to apply for a grant through the next funding round of the NSW Government’s Habitat Action Grants Program.
Mr Marshall said grants of up to $40,000 were available to fishing clubs, community groups, local councils and individuals wanting to improve fish habitat in their local area.
“With more than half a million dollars available in this funding round, this is a great opportunity to improve fish habitats in our local creeks, rivers and watercourses,” he said.
“In the last funding round of the program, three projects at Upper Horton, Inverell and Guyra received more than $78,000 to improve vegetation along riverbanks, remove debris from water courses and remediate impediments to river flows.
“This is a terrific example of how recreational fishing fees are helping to support the recreational fishing industry.”
Mr Marshall said the NSW Government wanted to ensure that quality habitat was protected, to ensure native fish thrive into the future.
Since 2011, the NSW Government has facilitated the investment of around $2.2 million from the Recreational Fishing Trusts into the Habitat Action Grants program.
Examples of projects eligible to be funded include:
Removing invasive weeds and re-establishing native vegetation on our riverbanks;
- Opening floodgates or improving road crossings to remove barriers to fish movement;
- Restoring eroded river banks;
- Re-snagging waterways; and
- Bank stabilisation works
Applications for Habitat Action Grants are now open and will close on Friday, 16 October 2015.
For more information about the program, application forms and examples of past projects, visit the website at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/hagor contact a Department of Primary Industries regional officer on (02) 6626 1107 or (02) 4916 3817.