100% of North Coast councils 'fish friendly'

Helping council staff look after our rivers, lakes and estuaries during construction.

That was the focus of a series of workshops held by DPI Fisheries across the North Coast earlier this month.

116 staff across three local councils, Coffs Harbour City Council, Bellingen and Clarence Valley Councils, embraced the opportunity to learn more about fish friendly design and construction practices at the workshops.

DPI Fisheries Conservation Officer Bradley Harrison presented at the workshops.

He said local councils play an important role in ensuring development around waterways is conducted in an environmentally friendly way.

“Across NSW, local councils do the most construction works in and around waterways. Not only do they do their own works around waterways, they also approve other development,” Mr Harrison said.

“This training aims to upskill councils in line with the best practice standard for erosion and sediment controls around waterways. It aims to put councils on the front foot when it comes to looking after our waterways as they approve and undertake construction works in and around waterways,” he said.

The workshops were delivered in two stages, one for ground works crews and the other for engineers, planners and works team leaders.

The workshop covered everything from permit conditions and compliance considerations to fish friendly design and erosion and sediment controls.

Samantha Hessey, Biodiversity Project Officer for Coffs Harbour City Council attended the Coffs Harbour workshop.

Ms Hessey said the training was relevant to her work organising bank stabilisation works across the Coffs Harbour City Council LGA.

“I think it's such a great thing to roll out to all the councils. This kind of information is so useful,” she said.

“This week I have three different contractors undertaking works on three different rivers. After attending these workshops, I’m confident I can communicate to contractors exactly what they can and can’t do when working around waterways,” Ms Hessey said.

“It was really practical showing great examples of good practice works around waterways versus poor practice.”

“It was so great to get a refresher on things such as sediment and erosion control and the level of detail needed to best complete fishery permit applications.”

DPI Fisheries Officer Sarah Conacher was part of the team delivering the training workshops.

“It’s fantastic to see all North Coast councils have participated in the workshops,” she said.

“Our next steps are delivering the training to councils on the NSW south coast, followed by LGAs in Greater Sydney, the Central Coast and the Mid Coast region.”

The Fish Friendly Councils project is funded via the NSW Marine Estate Management Strategy.

You can find out more about the Fish Friendly Councils project by checking out our website or our Fish Friendly Council YouTube playlist.