Anglers to put down rods and pick up shovels for planting day on the Barwon River

LOCAL recreational anglers are invited to get their hands dirty on Saturday July 13 to help revegetate the Barwon River.

Thousands of native trees, shrubs and grasses will be planted on the banks of the lower Barwon River near Marshall, south of Geelong, to help return a one kilometre stretch of the river to its original Floodplain Riparian Woodland habitat.

Corangamite CMA Project Officer – Land and Catchment Health Tony Byrne said that healthy habitat is the key to healthy fisheries.

“Through partnerships with angling groups and other government agencies, the Corangamite CMA is working to restore riparian land, improve instream habitat, enable fish passage, and engage with communities to spread the message that caring for our catchments benefits everyone.”

The Corangamite Catchment Management Authority has partnered with VR Fish, the Geelong and District Angling Association, Australian National Sportfishing Association Victoria, and the Geelong Gun and Rod Association to host an angler riparian planting day.

Native vegetation along waterways improves fish habitat by providing shade, buffering water temperature extremes, filtering nutrients and sediments from catchment run-off, reducing erosion, and providing food and woody debris for fish to shelter from predators.

The Corangamite CMA’s angler riparian planting project is supported by the Victorian Government’s $1 million Angler Riparian Partnerships Program, which is engaging recreational fishers in riparian habitat improvement projects across Victoria.

Registrations are open now through Eventbrite – search for “Barwon River Planting Day”.