On Friday, member for Bathurst Paul Toole announced that Bathurst Regional Council was the recipient of a $77,470 grant to fund a project for the local river. 

Council was able to secure the funding under the 2017-18 round of the NSW Environmental Trust’s Restoration and Rehabilitation grant program. 

The Bathurst council was one of 46 groups and government entities across the state to share in more $4 million of funding after submitting applications. 

Mr Toole said the money received by council would be put to good use.

“The project aims to improve the health of the Macquarie River by controlling invasive weeds and planting native vegetation along the riverbanks,” he said.

“This is such an important factor in improving the health of our waterway and creating habitat for our native wildlife and fish.” 

Council’s environmental programs coordinator Stevie Armstrong said the project would be concentrated on a one kilometre stretch of the river up stream of the Sydney Road crossing.

There will also be another section behind the greyhound track, off Upfold Street, that the project will focus on.

“We will be planting a range of native trees, shrubs and grasses, which will shade the river, provide habitat, reduce erosion,” Ms Armstrong said.

“And there is also going to be heaps of opportunities for school groups in the community to get involved through river care and tree planting days.” 

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The work aimed to be achieved by the project will connect with previous completed riparian rehabilitation projects and existing habitat areas.

Ms Armstrong said it is important to rehabilitate the Macquarie River and continually improve its condition as a lot of people and animals rely on it. 

“It’s a great asset that Bathurst has,” she said.

“We’re really lucky to have a river that’s running through its centre and it’s really important for the the threatened species and all the native wildlife that rely on the river as their habitat.”

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