FISH TO FLOURISH WITH NEW HABITAT FUNDING

[Member]

The Hon Katrina Hodgkinson MP - Minister for Primary Industries
MEDIA RELEASE - Thursday 19 February 2015

FISH TO FLOURISH WITH NEW HABITAT FUNDING

Fish habitats across NSW will be given a helping hand with the investment of over $575,000 in grants allocated to recreational angling clubs, community groups, landholders and local councils for 31 fish habitat projects, released today by the Minister for Primary
Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson.
Minister Hodgkinson said the 31 habitat rehabilitation projects being funded this year cover many popular coastal and inland fishing spots in NSW, with nearly $1.9 million committed as in-kind support from the successful applicants.
“This is great news for 31 areas across NSW which will see major improvements to local creeks, riverbanks, wetlands and better access for fish, which will improve fish habitats and ultimately produce more fish,” Ms Hodgkinson said.

“The program this year was highly competitive with 60 applications submitted, and we saw strong support by local recreational anglers for the applications and an increase in applications directly from recreational fishing clubs and associations.
“Successful projects which have received funding are located near cities and towns including Batemans Bay, Bilambil, Belmont, Bonshaw, Dubbo, Evans Head, Harrington, Hill End, Inverell, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lansdowne, Lismore, North Ryde, Orange, Penrith,
Rylstone, Tuncurry, Wentworth and Yeoval.”

In total, the 31 projects will:
-provide 470 kilometres of enhanced access for fish
- control over 375 kilometres of invasive riverbank weeds
- implement 1.2 kilometres of bank erosion control
- revegetate 10 kilometres of riparian zone
- install 40 complex woody habitats
- restore over 2000 square metres of seagrass

“Funding for these grants was provided through the Recreational Fishing Trusts, where all money raised by the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee are placed into the Recreational Fishing Trusts and spent on improving recreational fishing in NSW,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
“
The Recreational Fishing Trust - Habitat Action Grant Program is a great example of how anglers’ money is being invested back into recreational fishing, supporting the improvement of recreational fish populations.
”
A full list of successful projects can be found at dpi.nsw.gov.au/hag
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