NSW Marine Estate Strategy: Fish Habitat Recovery

Purpose and Program Overview

The NSW Marine Estate Management Strategy: Reconnecting Fish Habitats program is a government initiative. It is designed to restore and improve fish passage in coastal waterways of New South Wales. The main goal is to fix priority barriers. These include road crossings and weir structures that block fish movement. This helps with breeding and overall habitat resilience. The effort directly supports the Marine Estate Management Action 2.4. This action is to re-establish healthy floodplains and connected coastal catchments for native fish populations. This includes threatened species.

The program is funded and managed by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Fisheries. The program funds specific projects. These projects involve on-ground work. They improve fish passage at key identified locations. By fixing these barriers, the initiative aims to restore healthy, productive fish habitats. This contributes to sustainable fisheries, ecosystem health, and marine estate resilience.

This program is important for environmental conservation and fisheries management in NSW. It provides environmental, social, and economic benefits. It does this by enhancing coastal biodiversity and supporting recreational and commercial fishing industries.

Key Grant Details

• Grant amount: Funding varies by project scope. The total program allocation is up to $1,000,000.
• Application open: This is a closed, non-competitive program. Applications are not open to the public. Projects are by invitation only. DPI Fisheries approaches potential applicants directly.
• Application close: Not applicable. The program is ongoing. Project delivery is expected to continue through at least 2028.
• Eligible entities: Structure owners. This includes NSW local councils, water authorities, businesses, and private landowners. They must be willing to fix fish passage barriers.
• Co-contributions: Co-contributions are not an explicit requirement. However, they may be a factor in project negotiations.
• Location/state/territory applicability: New South Wales coastal waterways and floodplain catchments.

Priority Sectors

NSW Marine Estate Reconnecting Fish Habitats focuses on environmental restoration. This includes:

• Government agencies and businesses that manage aquatic infrastructure.
• Ecological consultancy and engineering firms that design fish passage solutions.
• Local government bodies are responsible for waterways and infrastructure.
• Conservation groups and community organisations that help with habitat restoration.

Funding Scope

• Funding range: Project-specific. The total program funding is up to $1,000,000.
• Categories of work:
  • Removing priority fish passage barriers (e.g., obsolete weirs or road crossings).
  • Replacing barriers with fish-friendly structures (e.g., bridges instead of causeways).
  • Building fishways and other fish passage solutions at priority weir sites.
• Project timeline: Timelines vary. They are aligned with the ongoing program schedules through at least 2028.

Grant Amount in Total

The total funding pool for the program is up to $1,000,000.

Eligibility Criteria

• The applicant must be the owner or manager of a fish passage barrier. The barrier must be in a NSW coastal catchment.
• Priority is given to structures with a High to Medium-High priority ranking in fish passage assessments.
• The applicant must be willing and able to manage and deliver the work.
• Projects must show clear environmental benefits for fish passage and habitat.
• The applicant must comply with NSW environmental, safety, and land management regulations.
• The DPI Fisheries Reconnecting Fish Habitats project manager will assess sites and then approach the owners.

Eligible Activities and Expenses

The program funds activities that are essential for restoring fish passage.

• Engineering and environmental assessments for project planning.
• Physical work. This includes removing, replacing, and building new structures.
• Project management and design. These must conform to ecological and hydrological requirements.
• Community engagement and reporting related to the projects.

Assessment Process

This is a closed, non-competitive program. It is managed directly by DPI Fisheries.

• Project prioritisation is done internally. It is based on scientific assessments and site rankings.
• DPI Fisheries invite applicants. They are chosen based on identified needs and current priority lists.
• After a project is selected, the applicant and DPI Fisheries enter into a funding deed. This deed outlines project responsibilities and reporting requirements.
• Monitoring and milestone reporting are required under the funding deed.

Recent Program Updates

The program has ongoing projects as part of the NSW Marine Estate Management Strategy. Priority barrier sites are regularly reassessed. This keeps the project list up to date. The program is also integrating more community engagement and Indigenous partnership components. Active delivery is scheduled to continue past 2028.

Application Tips

• Contact the DPI Fisheries Reconnecting Fish Habitats project manager early. This is the only way to discuss potential projects.
• Provide thorough documentation. This includes proof of ownership and environmental assessments.
• Show that you can manage and coordinate the remediation work.
• Align your project with the program’s environmental goals.
• Keep communication open with the DPI throughout the project.

Where to Get Help

Consider consulting with professional grant specialists such as Pattens Group for guidance on eligibility and project alignment. You can also access official program information, contact details, and application support via the NSW Marine Estate website.