Waranga Basin Fish Habitat Installation Project

The Waranga Basin Fish Habitat Installation Project will install native timber fish habitat in Waranga Basin to support the current high-quality Redfin fishery and an enhanced recreational fishery for Golden perch (Macquaria ambigua).


The habitat installation is being coordinated by the Goulburn Valley Association of Angling Clubs (GVAAC), funded from a Recreational Fishing Licen se grant a nd will besupported by the VFA's stocking of 750,000 Golden perch fingerlings over three  years.

HABITAT PLAN

GVAAC, supported by The Wedge Group, have developed, and consulted on a detailed plan to install native timber habitat into Waranga Basin.  

FISH PRODUCTION AND AGGREGATION 

• Increase primary production – biofilms, algae
• Feeding, cover and spawning for prey – small fish, macroinvertebrates (yabbies, bugs etc…)
• Feeding and cover for stocked Golden perch fingerlings (better survival and growth rate)
• Aggregation areas for adult predators - holding, migrating, feeding.

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS 

• Material types
• Amenity values
• Material availability and Cost
• Anchoring requirements
• Life span
• Transport and storage
• Safety in design
• Maintenance requirements
• Deployment equipment and labour
• Installation timeframes
• Staging areas

“By installing the right habitat and diversifying the species on offer, we think Waranga Basin will become one of the best inland recreational fisheries  in Victoria” -Roland Huber (Chair GVAAC)

HABITAT DESIGN 

Habitat Selection Criteria 
• Natural, readily available
• Stored/Assembled close to installation site
• Easily assembled
• Deployed with trailable vessel or barge
• No impact on GMW operations
Preferred Habitat Solution 
• Native timber brush piles and larger woody debris
• Fixed to a precast concrete anchor post (220kg)
• Posts will also anchor marker buoys identifying each site

SITE SELECTION 

Site Selection Criteria 
• Operating levels
• Access for boat and land-based fishers
• Climatic conditions
• Navigation hazards
• Existing habitat
• Fish behaviour
• Fishery characteristics
• Lake bed topography
INSTALLATION PLANNING 
• GMW approvals granted
• Works tendered and awarded to the team at Xtreme Marine, Echuca
• Installation is scheduled for October 2023
• Ongoing work with:
o Timber Supply
o Adjoining landholder / stakeholder engagement
TIMBER SUPPLY 
• Campaspe Shire Council are providing a significant contribution as part of their Rushworth Rail Trail Project (11km, $3M)
• Native vegetation required to be removed as part of the project will be delivered to the Murray Rd staging area 
• These works have been recently awarded
• Additional timber will likely be required

 

ARE YOU KEEN TO HELP OUT 

Rec fisher volunteers are needed to assist with: 
  • Timber preparation
  • Habitat assembly

If interested, please make contact. 

 

CONTACTS

For more information or to put your name down to volunteer, please contact to following: 


Roland Huber (GVAAC Chair)
0428 693 217
admin@nathaliaprinters.com.au


Karl Mathers (The Wedge Group)
0423 378 803
karl.mathers@thewedgegroup.com.au

 

 

Previous post Next post

0 comments

Leave a comment