During Goulburn-Murray Water’s winter works program channels across the region are lowered so they can be desilted and treated for weeds.
One such waterway was the number one channel at Leitchville.
G-MW worked with the Victorian Fisheries Authority and Goulburn Valley Water to relocate Murray cod and yellowbelly (golden perch) to Shepparton’s fish hatchery.
The fish hatchery will help stock GVW and the Burnanga Indigenous Fishing Club’s Dunyak Moira project (meaning fishing lake in Yorta Yorta language).
The project will transform two decommissioned lagoons at the Merrigum Water Treatment Plant into lakes that will be stocked with native fish.
G-MW’s Warren Blyth said it was good to support the project.
“When we dewater our channels, we always do what we can to rescue and relocate native fish in them,” he said.
“Often we simply transport them back to nearby creeks, but it is great that in this instance we know we are moving them to somewhere they will be a valuable asset.
“In the number one channel at Leitchville we found some very healthy native fish. We relocated 18 cod ranging between 59 and 96cm and 19 yellowbellies ranging between 30 to 60cm.”
GVW managing director Steve Capewell said the relocated fish would help make the new lakes a great asset for the community.
“We have used donated, recycled materials such as root balls from trees and concrete pipes to create a fish habitat on the lakes’ floors. It is a place we expect fish to thrive and fishers to love,” he said.
“The fish from G-MW’s channel will help turn these lakes into vibrant community spaces. It has been a great outcome for both corporations.”
The Dunyak Moira project is expected to be complete in 2023 and there is currently no public access.
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