OzFish launches first river repair boat in the country

OZFISH Unlimited has launched its first dedicated River Repair Boat in Ballina, marking a major step forward for reef restoration and waterway conservation in the region.

The purpose-built vessel features a flat-bottom design, allowing volunteers from the Richmond River group to access areas that were previously difficult or impossible to reach.

It will play a key role in oyster reef installation, weed management, clean-ups and snag rehabilitation.

OzFish is a not-for-profit group with local chapters of volunteers who work to protect and restore vital freshwater and marine habitats.

Local project manager Zoe White said the boat was a long-term investment aimed at improving water quality and supporting flood and storm response efforts.

“We’ve had to rely on our volunteers’ boats and other means of operation over the years,” White said.

“It will mainly be used for our reef restoration and oyster work while helping with water quality monitoring.

“The boat will also help us respond swiftly to events that impact fish habitat, which can lead to fish kills, such as storms and floods.

“It is the first of its kind and hopefully that can expand into other areas.”

The boat was funded through the NSW Government’s Community Building Partnership grants and BCF, Boating, Camping, Fishing.

Ballina MP Tamara Smith supported the project, with the group’s large volunteer base dedicating hundreds of hours to river restoration.

The Richmond River Chapter has spent years working on oyster recovery and last year contributed almost 1,000 volunteer hours using borrowed boats for clean-ups, monitoring and shellfish reef restoration.

“This will allow more volunteers to get involved with hands-on restoration, which will now be much easier,” White said.

“The boat can take eight people at a time with room for the baskets we need to transport for the oysters.

“It will be well maintained and looked after so it lasts for many years.”