Tide to Table recent events and activities

Townsville saltmarsh cleanup

A massive cleanup of rubbish from important saltmarsh and mangrove habitats on the southern side of the Ross River was undertaken on the 10-15 December 2007. Truckloads of rubbish including whitegoods, greenwaste, mattresses, tyres, car bodies and toxic waste such as oil drums and asbestos were removed. The saltmarsh and mangrove communities in the area provide important habitats for a range of fauna, including fish species of commercial, recreational and Traditional fishing importance. The rubbish is degrading these productive fish habitats, through leaching of toxic chemicals and plastics washing or blowing into waterways. The cleanup, which was coordinated through the Tide to Table - Burdekin Dry Tropics project, was undertaken by the Department of Natural Resources and Water and Townsville Port Authority. The cleanup has helped restore some of the important fish habitats in the area. Other stakeholders, including state agencies and Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM have joined forces to help prevent further rubbish dumping, through increased signage, surveillance cameras, additional patrols and education.

Tide to Table Project – Cabramatta Weir Falls

A long term barrier to fish passage was partly removed last month in a Tide to Table project with Fairfield City Council in Sydney, NSW. The old redundant concrete weir formed a considerable barrier to migrating fish and with its removal a further 5.77 km of waterway was opened up. The 21 km long creek contains the largest freshwater wetland in the Georges River catchment in NSW, a population of 30,000 grey-headed flying-foxes (a threatened species), and two extremely dedicated and motivated environmental volunteer groups.

Congratulations to the Fairfield Creeks and Wetlands Group who recently won the Water Quality Monitoring Award in the Community Division of Sydney Water's Streamwatch Excellence Awards. Members of this group are involved in fish monitoring at the site and looking at the before and after changes to water quality and fish.

Bushcare volunteers visit Sydney’s primary industry

Fifteen Tide to Table Bushcare volunteers recently spent a day on the water investigating Sydney’s seafood industry. Starting early at the Sydney Fish Market for a tour of the auction floor the group then headed to Botany Bay to join two Maritime vessels which carefully navigated shallow mud channels towards Sydney’s last remaining oyster lease in Woolooware Bay.  The sheds made a fantastic backdrop to a tour by oyster industry legend Bob Drake whose operation continues to supply quality Sydney Rock and Pacific Oysters to the market despite many obstacles. The group then motored via Towra Point to Botany Bay National Park for lunch. The afternoon was spent talking with Ron Firkin aside and aboard his vessel ‘Babs’ discussing the lobster industry along the NSW coast.

The day’s aim was for Bushcare volunteers to see how their actions in the upper catchment affect seafood  production and the livelihood of primary producers in the waters below.

Fish for Sydney workshop

OWA recently provided the opportunity for 45 local and state government employees to discuss best practice management techniques for aquatic habitat restoration projects and fish habitat issues in Sydney. Information on legislation, best practice management techniques and case studies were delivered, followed by a field trip to the Tide to Table funded Canada Bay stormwater detention basin project.

Fish habitat picnic day / Carp fishing competition

Carp one, OWA zero!!!
A brisk winter morning greeted OWA staff as they arrived with a ute load of ice and a heavy marque to set up for the Lane Cove River carp fishing competition in Sydney on the 20 August. Over 100 people including Bushcare volunteers, commercial fishers and recreational fishing club anglers slipped away from the registration marque in search of the massive, numerous Lane Cove River carp. Unfortunately by day's end despite best efforts only 1 carp was hooked and it allegedly escaped before capture.  Theories and speculation followed but the fish outsmarted us and just weren’t biting. All up it was a great sunny day with recreational and commercial fishers chatting with Bushcare and the community about common alliances and fish habitat issues while viewing trailer displays over a BBQ lunch. Thanks to all who attended and helped out on the day, and we may try again in the coming months with an evening event ???

Tide to Table official launch

OceanWatch Australia’s (OWA) new Tide to Table Program (funded by the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program) was officially launched by the Hon. Sussan Ley (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) at Alfords Point on the Georges River in Sydney on 16 March 2006.

The on-ground works component of the program concentrating on restoring Sydney’s priority fish habitat areas. There are currently 29 projects across Sydney working to protect and restore aquatic habitat. These projects are undertaking activities such as:

• Fencing off wetlands from 4WD / trail bike damage
• Removing fish passage obstructions such as weirs
• Installing stormwater detention basins to reduce sediments, gross pollutants and nutrients that impact on wetland health
• Stabilising riverbanks with plantings to limit erosion and provide fish habitat
• Maintaining and creating wetlands, restoring ecosystem functions by weeding, tidal height manipulation to increase habitat area and reclaiming suitable land.