‘Fish drops’ to restore Cairns’ urban waterways and cherished fishing spots

Cairns’ next generation of inner city fishos will be able cast off at sunset with a hand reel and bucket for decades to come with a major project set to restore key urban waterways.

Environmental charity OzFish Unlimited has recieved $1.5 million in federal government funding to improve the health of Saltwater Creek at Manoora. OzFish Unlimited Cairns project manager Phil Laycock and his team will clean the urban waterway of weeds, install rock ramps to pool water and encourage native fish species to inland areas of the creek. Picture: Brendan Radke

Cairns’ next generation of inner city fishos will be able cast off at sunset with a hand reel and bucket for decades to come with a major project set to restore key urban waterways, Oz Fish Cairns Chapter’s president says.

Australia’s only fishing conservation charity will spend $1.5m restoring Saltwater Creek and Lily Creek, improving wetland connectivity, removing invasive weeds and strengthening riparian zones along the popular waterways.

Surveys conducted by OzFish have found juvenile Jungle Perch in Cairns’ urban waterways.

The federally-funded project will also introduce “fish drops” along stretches of Saltwater Creek in Manoora, allowing fish to move more easily up and down the creek, project manager Phil Laycock said.

“It’s really easy to think of these waterways as drains but we’ve got to remember they still provide a really important role in the landscape,” Mr Laycock said.

“We’ve got a section of concrete here (in Saltwater Creek) which makes it quite hard for fish to migrate upstream, so we have lost a bit of habitat in this catchment.

“By creating a series of rock ramps along here, we’ll recreate some of that.”

Surveys by OzFish have recorded more than 60 native species in Cairns’ urban waterways, including eels, jungle perch, mangrove jack and crustaceans, Mr Laycock said.

“Managing the weeds will provide better water flow, the rock drops will create deeper pools and we’ll put some vegetation along the banks to create that riparian habitat as well,” he said.

“So it won’t just benefit fish but birdlife as well. One of the weeds of significance is a grass called hymenachne, you get bushy trees in there too.

“We’ll work to get the natural ecosystem services functioning as fast as we can.

“There are freshwater crab species that only live through here and yabbies.”

Mr Laycock said restoring urban waterways had additional benefits in everyday for life Cairns residents. Picture: Brendan Radke

Beyond their environmental value, Cairns’ waterways played an important role in building communities.

“This was my playground as a kid through the late 70s and 80s and my nephew spends time down here and has great fun,” Mr Laycock said.

“You see lots of people walking their dogs here, so improving the amenity will be really nice.”

He also said traditional owners, the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji peoples, still had strong cultural connections to the areas.

“The benefits to the community are that we’ll have a habitat functioning like it used to 50 years ago … and it provides a place for community members to come and give something back,” he said.

The federal government funding will be used in part to remove invasive species from Saltwater Creek and Lilly Creek, cleaning the urban waterways of weeds. Picture: Brendan Radke

But the work won’t pose a flood hazard to nearby residents, Mr Laycock said.

“We’ve got to ensure the safety of the community,” he said.

“The council is a very important partner and we’ve been working with them for a very long time prior to receiving the funding.

“We’re working with engineers who do flood and risk modelling. They’ll be dealing with that hydrological aspect. We’re also going out to external experts to design the rock drops or ‘fish ramps’, so that fish can use them effectively.”

Cairns Regional Council Division 7 councillor Anna Middleton says projects that improve inland waterways help protect the Great Barrier Reef. Picture: Brendan Radke

Healthy urban catchments play a critical role in supporting fish and improving water quality entering the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns Regional Council’s Division 7 councillor Anna Middleton said.

“Urban rivers and catchments are a vital part of Australia’s ecosystem,” Ms Middleton said.

“They function as important green and blue spaces supporting biodiversity, cultural and community values.”

OzFish will work with experts on progressing design work over the next six months before more consulting with the council and environmental agencies on the next phase of the project.

Originally published as ‘Fish drops’ to restore Cairns’ urban waterways and cherished fishing spots