Awarding of contract to fish freeway

08 September 2009

Native fish in the Macquarie River will have access to an additional 214km of water after Australian Prestressing Services (APS) won the contract for construction of a new fishway at Marebone Weir, 50km north of Warren.

State Water Corporation worked with the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water and Industry and Investment NSW on the fishway project as part of the Rivers Environmental Restoration Program (RERP).

State Water Project Manager Janaka Weeraratne said the $3.5 million project will benefit the local economy as well as the environment.

“Where possible, Australian Prestressing Services will use local sub-contractors to undertake the works,” Mr Weeraratne said.

The RERP aims to arrest the decline of the most stressed and iconic rivers and wetlands in NSW.

“Part of the project includes the installation of fishways at important sites to improve the movement of native fish in and out of major wetland areas,” he said.

“The existing fishway at Marebone Weir will be de-commissioned as it was built in 1975 and no longer meets the performance requirements and accessibility for new fishways.

“The new fishway will be a vertical slot system which best meets economic and ecological requirements and provides demonstrated long-term benefits to maintain or improve biodiversity.”

Construction is set to commence in early October 2009.

The RERP is jointly funded by the NSW Government and the Australian Government’s Water for the Future - Water Smart Australia Program and aims to arrest the decline of wetlands through water recovery, effective management of environmental water and the sustainable management of our wetlands.

-ENDS-

Media enquiries and interviews:
Jane Urquhart (02) 6841 2087 or 0429 449 711