Follow the links to more detailed pages of Bass Sydney's Environmental Activities.
| Name | Focus | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emu Plains | Riparian Clean Up & Re‑vegetation | Ongoing | In 2011 we started on a new project to clear invasive weeds, collect seeds of native species of the area and to replant. We have partnered with Greening Australia, Penrith City Council and the Hawkesbury/Nepean CMA. With ongoing maintenance we expect this project to take somewhere between 5 & 10 years, if ever finished. |
| Hawkesbury/Nepean "Bass Catch" | Fish Population Monitoring | Ongoing | The first of the Angler Catch Database projects. Implemented in 1988 in close cooperation with Dr John Harris. Angling events conducted twice yearly - all data provided to NSW Fisheries. |
| Parramatta River | Fish Passage | Ongoing | Having identified the Parramatta River as being the last major system in the Sydney Basin not being considered for fish passage improvement at the time, Bass Sydney conducted it's first "in-house" BassCatch here in 1997. In ensuing years through close contact with the Upper Parramatta River Catchment Trust and then the Parramatta City Council (PCC) we were finally able, in 2006, to access $45,000 in funds from the Recreational Fishing Community Grants Programme to contribute to the construction of a fishway here. This fishway at the Charles St Weir was the first of 3 fishways so far constructed by PCC. With a 4th and final fishway scheduled for construction in 2011/2012 we look forward to significant improvements in native fish populations over time. As a natural consequence of our interest in this system and in satisfaction of our grant fund obligations we have since contributed 39 man hours to further BassCatch's and 111.5 man hours to public education as to the fish passage needs and population status of our native fish. The latter via the manning of a stand at PCC Carp Catches in 2008 and 2009. This effort will continue as we follow this project through to conclusion over a 4 to 5 year time horizon. |
| Lane Cove Fishway | Fish Passage | Ongoing | Since 1997 Bass Sydney has taken an interest in fish passage on the Lane Cover River, developing relationships with NPWS and NSW Fisheries staff. With a fishway appropriate to native fish constructed in 1999 and subsequently improved in 2009 our focus has shifted to population monitoring and fishway maintenance. Our annual "in-house" BassCatch events on this system suggest that recruitment of juvenile bass has been improved by this fishway with 2009 results in particular revealing more small fish than previously seen. During these events, and at other times as required, we remove debris from the fishway to help maintain it's effectiveness. |
| NPWS Weeding Project | Riparian Vegetation | Ongoing | Over the 2008, 2009 and 2010 bass fishing "off seasons" we have been involved in weeding work with NPWS North Richmond and the Springwood Angling Club. In 2008 and 2009 we concentrated on lantana and tobacco bush removal along the banks of the Grose River in Woods Reserve. In 2010 we removed more lantana and also contributed to a planting day in the Shaws Farm area of Yellowmundee National Park. We look forward to continuing our association with NPWS North Richmond in future years. |
| Greening Australia Planting Project | Riparian Vegetation | In Hiatus | From 2003 to 2005 Bass Sydney conducted tree plantings with Greening Australia (GA) at 3 different sites along South Creek. Visits in subsequent years (up to and including 2010) showed these plantings to be very successful. Whilst the planting activities ceased with a drying up of funds we have continued to maintain a relationship with GA via attendance at various workshops. Individual members have attended workshops on topics such as Site Assessment, Seed Collection and Conservation Action Planning. GA have expressed an interest in planting with us again and we hope to get this re-started in the next year. |
| Bringing Back The Fish | Fish Passage | Completed | Bass Sydney was proud to have a delegate on the BBTF Steering Committee for the Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority in this important NSW Fisheries initiative. |
| Liverpool Weir | Fish Passage | Completed | Through the dedication of a past club stalwart, Percy Short, Bass Sydney was able to obtain $186,000 in grant funds to kick start the construction of a vertical slot fishway at Liverpool Weir on the Georges River. This fishway was ultimately completed in late 1997. "In-house" BassCatch's prior to and subsequent to construction confirmed the success of this project with returning fish no longer at risk of over-fishing when banked up below the weir and with higher numbers of juveniles now encountered upstream. Bass Sydney's efforts on the George's also included hands on work with NSW Fisheries to re-construct a small rock ramp fishway at Ingleburn. |
These are the major activities undertaken by Bass Sydney:
- Numerous other "one-time" efforts have been made over the years such as time spent removing debris from other fishways or "Clean Up Australia" days spent on the water.
- Bass Sydney believes that habitat is everything. Where it is tempting for some to battle declining fish populations via fish stocking we believe that this may merely mask the root causes of decline and not serve the best interests of our native fish in the long term.
- We always look to restore fish passage and healthy habitat in the belief that fish populations will then recover naturally in all but the worst of situations.
- We understand that in-stream habitat can be adversely impacted by direct action (e.g. de-snagging; channel alteration; direct contamination through dumping) as well as by off-stream activities.
- Some of these activities will require solutions that we can only lobby for e.g changes in waste management practices; intervention in illegal clearing or dumping activities. On the other hand, as a club we can take direct action in the improvement of riparian vegetation.
- Improving riparian vegetation can mitigate against some pollution sources as well as against sedimentation and salinity problems. Improving riparian vegetation will also improve the food chain for all in-stream life.
For these reasons, we will continue to look for and undertake projects that address riparian vegetation as well as fish passage issues.