Learn more about fish passage projects

Walgett and Moree Plains residents will be able learn more about new infrastructure projects designed to improve how native fish move along our waterways and support river health at community information sessions this week.

The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water will be sharing details about Phase 1 of the Fish Passage: Reconnecting the Northern Basin Project and will be able to answer questions from locals.

The drop in-sessions will also be the perfect opportunity for people to provide feedback.

They will be held across two locations:

• Collarenebri - Tuesday 9 April 2024, 9am-11am, The Red Shed
• Walgett - Tuesday 9 April 2024, 3pm-5pm, Gray Park (BBQ area), Euroka Street

The project is looking at creating a connected ‘highway’ for native fish, so they can move unrestricted along the northern waterways to increase populations, improve fish health and protect habitats, especially during drought.

Phase 1 includes the:

• Construction of fishways at Banarway Weir, Calmundi Weir and Louth (downstream) Weir
• Reinstating 370km of fish passages along the Barwon-Darling River system

For more information go to Fish passage: Reconnecting the Northern Basin project.

Quotes attributable to Andrew Lavelle, Director Infrastructure Projects, the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water:

“We’ve already conducted extensive consultation with landholders and Aboriginal groups and now we’re keen to hear from the wider public about improving fish passage in the Northern Basin.

“Nothing beats getting out on the ground to hear directly from locals about their thoughts on projects happening in their backyard.

“These information sessions will give residents in Walgett and on the Moree Plains face-to-face time with our teams to really understand the nuts and bolts of the project and ask questions.

“We’ve tried to make it as easy as possible for people to come along so there is no need to book, you can just turn up during the allocated times.

“I urge everyone to come along because the more voices we hear from, the better informed our decisions will be about the future direction of the fish passage project.”