Slippery Crossing Tweed

“Conservation through sustainable use.  Making people part of the solution”
“The Voice of NSW Recreational Fishers”
Web site; www.ecofishers.com
                                                                   

Mr Tom Alletson
Coast & Waterways Co-ordinator,
Tweed Shire Council
PO Box 816
Murwillumbah NSW 2484.
                                              Re: Removal and replacement of        
                                              “Slippery Crossing,” Old Lismore Rd.
Dear Mr Alletson,
ECOfishers NSW enthusiastically supports the removal of the barrier to native fish passage, known as “Slippery Crossing,” on the Oxley River Murwillumbah.

This obstruction is approximately 4 km upstream from the Bray Park Weir, on the Old Lismore Road.

ECOfishers applauds Council’s initiative to remove this unnatural barrier and replace it with pipes and the necessary fishway.

The Oxley River is an important habitat for the native Australian Bass, a highly prized and sought after recreational species. Existing barriers on coastal rivers and streams, prohibit the annual migration of Australian Bass to and from their spawning sites, downstream.

Such removal and replacement will significantly enhance the biological integrity of the Oxley River system. It will also add new dimensions to our riverine biodiversity and ecosystems.
Recreational fishers of the region commend this initiative to Council. For it will provide a win for our riverine resources, a win for the environment and a huge win for the community.
                                                
                                                                  Yours faithfully,

                                             Ken Thurlow  CEO  ECOfishers NSW.