Sweetwater Fishing Forums
General Category => News Views & Press Releases => Topic started by: Editor on March 01, 2013, 12:46:03 AM
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The Hon Katrina Hodgkinson MP
Minister for Primary Industries
Minister for Small Business
MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday 27 February 2013
FISH PASSAGE RESTORED AT BREWARRINA WEIR
A new $1.2 million fishway has been completed at Brewarrina which allows native fish to move freely through the Barwon River, Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson said today.
Ms Hodgkinson said the fishway is important for the long-term survival of native fish populations in the region, allowing fish uninterrupted access to more than 1,000km of the river system and providing better opportunities to migrate and spawn.
“Prior to the construction of the fishway, fish could not migrate past the barrier of the Brewarrina weir,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
“Barriers such as this are one of the main factors that have contributed to the decline in native fish numbers in the Murray-Darling Basin.”
Local Member for Barwon Kevin Humphries said the Brewarrina fishway has been completed after extensive consultation with the Ngemba traditional owners and the local community.
“This particular fishway was designed to blend with the heritage-listed stone fish traps downstream of the weir,” Mr Humphries said.
“The Brewarrina Aboriginal fish traps are a significant historical and cultural feature of this area, so it was important that they were properly connected,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
“The new fishway is ideally suited to the requirements of the native fish that breed in these waters, including Murray Cod and Golden Perch, and will help native fish compete with feral species.
“A provision has also been made in the design to install a carp separation cage, to remove the pests from the river.
“This has been a complex project but the end result is a testament to the expertise and professionalism of those involved,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
The Brewarrina fishway was jointly funded by the Department of Primary Industries, Western Catchment Management Authority, NSW Environmental Trust, Murray Darling Basin Authority, NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts and State Water Corporation as part of the Bourke to Brewarrina Demonstration Reach Project.