Dubbo's river repair bus and coordinator David Harris applauded

OzFish reports other Australians are now hooked on revitalising their rivers because of their achievements.

"The success has seen the concept replicated in other parts of Australia because of what it has achieved in Dubbo," it reports.

Dubbo Regional Council and OzFish's major partner BCF (Boating, Camping, Fishing) are the bus's benefactors.

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Since October it has racked up more than 350 hours ensuring the river systems, reserves and wetlands across Dubbo are revitalised and nurtured.

Tonnes of rubbish have been removed, thousands of native trees planted and kilometres of parkland and riparian zones de-weeded.

OzFish's Murray-Darling Basin manager Braeden Lampard is overseeing the work of the river repair bus.

"It's done a fantastic job in protecting both fish habitat and enhancing community parks surrounding the diverse waterways and reserves in the region," he said.

"This project has helped to protect areas of importance in the region and enhance and celebrate our river systems and wetlands.

"It has supported the work of local environmental and community groups to improve the natural diversity of our environmentally-sensitive areas and reinvigorated our reserves and waterway health.

"The local fish and ecosystem benefits and so does the local community. It's a win-win."

OzFish says Mr Harris has worked tirelessly doing the work others "simply don't want to do".

"Mattresses, old tyres, washing machines, shopping trolleys, syringes, cars, fast-food packaging and general waste, you name it, you can guarantee, we've picked it up," Mr Harris said.

"There is no doubt it's hard and dirty work but at the end of the day we're providing a healthy ecosystem by reducing pollution that enters our waterways after rainfall.

"We're attracting insects to the riverbank with the new shrubs and trees and we're helping our river system by nurturing new seedlings to secure and stabilise the bank."

OzFish says the bus and Mr Harris' efforts are helping the council keep its public parks and facilities neat and clean for the enjoyment of the community and the benefit of the ecosystem.

The applause for the Inland Waterways OzFish River Repair Bus and Mr Harris almost coincides with a global launch.

"It's a timely priority as the United Nations Decade of Ecosystem Restoration will launch on World Environment Day June 5 which aims to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on a global scale," OzFish reports.

For more information or to support OzFish in its continued work to protect and restore fish habitat across Australia visit ozfish.org.au.

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