By Molly Magennis
Thirty-two fish habitats have been installed along the Maribyrnong River between Avondale Heights and Flemington Racecourse in a bid to revive its native fish population.
The habitats will create a new recreational fishery for suburban fisherman as well as improve river health while complementing the significant fish stockings in the river.
The habitats will be home to some of the 200,000 estuary perch already stocked in the Maribyrnong River since 2018, with a further 100,000 estuary perch to be stocked this summer.
This project has been funded by recreational fishing licence fees, the state government’s $35 million Go Fishing Victoria Plan and Melbourne Water.
The structures are made from repurposed felled timber and concrete and were built with the help of prisoners at Hopkins Correctional Centre, with hundreds of tonnes of rock donated by the Cherry Creek Youth Justice Centre Project to use on the habitats.
Fishing and Boating Minister Melissa Horne said the work done in the Maribyrnong River shows how stocking fish and improving their habits can help our own waterways and “create brilliant opportunities for families to spend time together by the water.”
“This project is a great example of the results we can achieve with collaboration between fishers, communities, government and a range of agencies.”
Water Minister Lisa Neville said not only was this project a ‘great win’ for the river’s inhabitants, but also the local community.
