The second allocation of the Flagship Fish Habitat Grants program has been announced and Cootamundra electorate organisations are encouraged to apply. The program offers applicants up to $400,000 over two years for the rehabilitation of fish habitats.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the grants offer a unique chance to instigate large-scale improvements to local fish habitats.
“If you think your local creek, river or estuary needs significant help, and you have an idea, then I encourage you to contact DPI to discuss your idea and application,” Ms Cooke said.
“Thanks to this grant program, applicants will be able to rehabilitate sites which have previously been hard to tackle due to funding requirements and/or the associated environmental investigations and assessments needed.”
Up to $400,000 per project is on offer and these projects can run for up to two years, with funding available to support the planning and site preparation necessary to fix important fish habitats.
Projects can include addressing wetland and riparian vegetation loss, riverbed and bank erosion, fish passage and poor water quality from the disturbance of acid sulfate soils.
Ms Cooke said the program was funded by the Recreational Fishing Trust and is another excellent example of how recreational fishing fees are helping to support and improve fisheries in NSW.
“This is the second round of the program, which builds on the existing Habitat Action Grants program and seeks to target much larger scale projects that require higher levels of funding assistance,” Ms Cooke said.
Since 2009, the Recreational Fishing Trust has invested over $5 million into the existing Habitat Action Grants program, which has attracted significant additional investment of nearly $13.5 million in-kind and cash contributions delivering improved fish populations in NSW through on-ground improvements in fish habitat.
Applications for 2019 Flagship Grants opened on February 11 and close at 5pm, April 12, 2019.
For more information about the program, visit: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/habitat/rehabilitating/ahr-grants-program/flagship-fish-eoi
