Surveys show positive results from fishway

Works to re-connect the upper and lower sections of the Thomson River through the construction of a fishway at Horseshoe Bend has started to see positive results.

Recent surveys have revealed greater catches of the native Tupong upstream of the Horseshoe Bend tunnel.

A range of sizes of fish (juveniles and adults) were also collected above the tunnel, which is a rare find.

West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA) chief executive officer Martin Fuller said they were delighted with the results.

“Our work with the local community over several years is delivering exactly the sort of results we wanted – a healthy, connected river that allows upstream and downstream migration of native species.”

The construction of a fishway at Horseshoe Bend was completed in August last year after many years of negotiation and consultation with the community.

WGCMA waterways project officer David Stork said Tupong were previously more common downstream of the tunnel but now have unimpeded access to the upper reaches of the catchment

“The female of the species migrates long distances upstream where it grows and matures and then it migrates back downstream to the sea to breed. The fact that so many can now get as far as the Aberfeldy and Thomson Dam indicates that they are using the fishway and exploring new territory which is what we wanted to see,” he said.

The ability of the Tupong to move upstream was aided by a release under the ‘Water for the Environment’ initiative where extra flows of water were released from the Thomson Dam under a partnership between the WGCMA and the Victorian Environmental Water Holder (VEWH).

“Actions to improve fish passage both up and downstream will contribute to restoring the migratory fish community in the Thomson River,” Mr Stork said.

While visitors to the Thomson area might not be able to easily spot a Tupong, they are encouraged to visit the area around the Horseshoe Bend Tunnel and the new fishway.

The Horseshoe Bend Tunnel is about four kilometres from Walhalla on the Thomson River.

It was built in 1911 and 1912 to drain water from the Thomson at Horseshoe Bend to allow for alluvial mining of the riverbed and it gained heritage status in 2002.

Mr Fuller said the newly constructed paths around the fishway allow great access to view the tunnel and explore some of the area upstream of the tunnel entrance. “It’s well worth a visit.”