A SMALL group of Tea Gardens Hawks Nest residents have joined together to fix the Myall River.
The Myall River Action Group was formed at a meeting on Saturday, September 20.
The group consists of professional and recreational fishermen, an oyster farmer, feral animal expert, ferry operator and a local councillor.
Group spokesperson Gordon Grainger said the main objective of the Myall River Action Group will be to dredge the mouth of the river.
The objective was determined during the meeting in September.
The group believes dredging will allow easier navigation for the ferries and help the river flush during tides.
Mr Grainger said a spokesperson from the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has said the lake is at least 1m higher at the top end than it was a few years ago.
“All this year it has gradually been getting worse but it has been happening for three or four years,” Mr Grainger said.
“It’s pretty serious and it’s escalating.”
Weeds and pollution washing down from the top of the river are clustering at the bottom of the Singing Bridge and causing the river to turn brown.
“It’s all washing into the river and not being drained,” Mr Grainger said.
A new disease has also appeared in the river, again infecting the fish.
Following the outbreak of winter disease Mr Grainger sent fish he had caught near the Singing Bridge to the DPI for testing, believing at the time they had red spot disease.
Results show the fish did not have the confirmed red spot or winter diseases, but another unidentified illness.
The lesions on the tested fish were consistent with bacterial or toxic diseases.
A second aim of the group is to have the entire river dredged, which they believe will help clear the water.
Re-elected councillor Len Roberts has approached council staff to have a public meeting where residents could listen to experts and discuss options.
“The idea of the meeting is to find out the facts and work on improving our waterways,” Cr Roberts said.
Representatives from council, National Parks, Waterways, Department of Primary Industries, Department of Environment and Climate Change and the Marine Parks Authority will be approached to attend the public meeting.
Problems raised in Parliament
MEMBER for Port Stephens Craig Baumann has addressed state parliament on the problems facing the Myall River.
In his address Mr Baumann told parliament he was concerned about the deteriorating health of the Myall Lakes River system and the thousands of fish that are dying of various fungal-related diseases.
“You don’t have to be an expert to see there was, and still is, something seriously wrong with the river system,” Mr Baumann said.
Mr Baumann said he supports the call by Great Lakes Council for the NSW Government to help fund dredging of the river.
He also stated the number of departments involved in the river is a problem because each does not know what is happening and mentioned reports of establishing another body to address the river’s problems.
Mr Baumann called on the Government and the departments to make it a priority to fix the problem.
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