The Protect Repair Connect project has reinforced the valuable contribution community groups can make to the environment.
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The Dubbo Macquarie River Bushcare Group was awarded $250,000 over six years by the NSW Environmental Trust for the project, which wound up this month.
The project aimed to protect, repair and connect priority sites within 100 kilometres reach of habitats of the endangered trout cod.
Volunteer Melissa Gray said the group was “very proud” of being awarded one of the biggest grants west of the dividing range.
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She said groups like Dubbo Macquarie River Bushcare played a vital role in conservation.
“It’s fantastic to have a group in the community that has the capacity to take on such a large project and do so much work for our very important river,” Ms Gray said.
“We’re part of the environment.
“We shouldn’t just expect the responsibility to fall on government or councils – we need to take responsibility ourselves.”
Once widespread and abundant in the Macquarie River, trout cod populations have dramatically declined in the last century due to man-made changes to their habitats. They are distinguishable from their Murray cod relatives due to a black eye stripe on the side of the head, a blue-grey colouration, a grey belly and an overbite.
As part of their latest project, Dubbo Macquarie River Bushcare cleared 48 hectares of weeds including willows, castor oil and African boxthorn and planted more than 1600 trees; removed 4.6 tonnes of rubbish from around the in the river; organised the resnagging of 20 trees into six woody habitat complexes, and fencing to exclude stock from 15 kilometres of river bank, and; designed and installed educational signage along the river.
The group will continue to run bi-monthly working bees, and members gather afterwards for a “social cuppa” and to discuss and learn about the health of native fish and inland rivers.
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Ms Gray said new members were always welcome.
“There’s potential to learn a lot about the health of inland rivers, because there’s some dedicated river management professionals in the group,” she said. “You learn a lot about the complexities of inland river health as you go!”
The group is now hoping to secure a larger NSW Environment Trust grant.
“They’re looking for groups to take on regeneration of stretches of the river; large landscapes, not just little, localised projects,” Ms Gray said. “It will be fantastic if the Macquarie River gets $10 million over 11 years.”
Email dubbobushcare@yahoo.com.au for more information. Visit http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/species-protection/report-it to report trout cod sightings.
