Fish Hotels: Reversing the loss of native fish numbers
Phillip McCullough
Condamine Alliance (CA), PO Box 1538 Toowoomba QLD 4350
Abstract
Fish hotels and Lunkers are the latest accommodation package being offered for native fish
in the Condamine River. European development over the last century has reduced the
available habitat necessary for native fish to survive. Historical farming practices, the
overuse of water resources and inappropriate in stream practices has led to a degradation of
the Condamine River system health. The last 60 years has seen a range of farming
practices, water extraction, overfishing, soil runoff and chemical contamination causing long
term impact on river health.
Restoring riverine health biodiversity requires human intervention to enable natural
ecosystems to be assisted to recover at a rate faster than nature can implement itself. Over
the past 8 years community organisations, businesses, Government and the Murray Darling
Basin Commission have come together with the regional NRM body to implement activities
to restore native fish populations in the iconic Condamine River system at the headwaters of
the Murray Darling River.
The work has been delivered on over 110 kilometres of riverine reach through fishway
restoration, installing artificial habitats, removing weeds, rubbish and pest fish, changing
grass mowing practices and altering grazing and fencing installations near water courses. An
additional 35 kilometres of river works is underway in the headwaters of the river system
while engaging community interest in changes to the biggest fish barrier on the river
affecting 700 kms of riparian health near Chinchilla.
Annual fish surveys by QDPI have shown increased native fish numbers of over 1000 per
cent with new sightings of fish diversity not seen for 20 years and increasing community
interest and involvement in the health of their local river. Native fish are coming back and
locals are seeing the benefit of a healthier river system. The healing has started with a little
help from fish hotels and lunkers.
Introduction
Freshwater fish habitats exist across the Australian landscape and the Condamine River in
Queensland is no exception. The flow in the Condamine River is often unpredictable and
subject to long periods of limited flow depending on weather conditions. The river systems of
the Murray Darling Basin are declining in health – demonstrated by a decline in native fish
species whose populations are now estimated at less than 10 per cent of pre-European
settlement levels. Riverine habitat exists across the length and breadth of the river or stream
and encompasses the vegetation, banks, grasses, water plants, gravel and snags in the
system. Native fish populations are considered a good reference species to indicate the
health of the river system.
Condamine Alliance is the designated regional body by the Australian Government to deliver
natural resource management (NRM) funded government programs for the Condamine
Catchment (map 1) and has had an active role in river restoration since 2004. Under this
program, the Dewfish Demonstration Reach (map 2) was established near Dalby on the
Darling Downs to undertake research, community engagement, on ground works and
monitoring and reporting changes.
Within the reach area, the riverine program has created habitat through the construction of
in-stream habitat features, replacing vegetation and involving the community. Measures
such as fish hotels using recycled fence posts and railway sleepers, lunkers made from
sawn timber, cod holes using old road culverts and planting of native plant species have
been implemented.
Reef, Range and Red Dust 2015, Caloundra
Through human intervention the demonstration reach initiative has been installing artificial
structures to bring back the native fish and thus fish hotels for fish was initiated.
Map 1 Location of the Condamine river system
Map 2 Location of Dewfish Demonstration Reach section
Background
The Dewfish Demonstration Reach (DDR) is Queensland’s first demonstration reach based
on the Murray Darling Basin Authority Native Fish Strategy Demonstration Reach Concept.
The DDR is the flagship model for the implementation of future on ground riverine works
across the Condamine catchment. Planning for the DDR first started in 2005 and the first
works commenced in early 2007 with the repair and modification to the Loudoun Weir
Fishway and the rehabilitation of Oakey Creek at Bowenville Reserve.
The Demonstration Reach concept was born out of the Murray Darling Basin Authority
Native Fish Strategy which was designed to reverse the declines in native fish populations
across the Murray Darling Basin. The strategy addresses eight key threats to river health
and fish communities: flow regulation, habitat degradation, lowered water quality, barriers,
alien species, exploitation, disease, and translocations and stocking (MDBC 2003).
Demonstration reaches use a range of on-ground interventions, supported by strategic
planning, community engagement and monitoring evaluation to address these threats within
a defined location. Condamine Alliance built on the foundations of the Native Fish Strategy
(MDBA 2003) and associated Demonstration Reach model for river restoration (Barrett
2004) to bring the DDR to life to restore the fish communities of the central Condamine
catchment waterways in 2008.
The DDR is a 110 kilometre stretch of waterway in the Condamine catchment in southern
Queensland (Map 2) from Myall Creek at Dalby along the Condamine River to Oakey Creek.
The Demonstration Reach showcases multiple interventions (photo 1) and partnerships for
restoring river ecosystems and engaging communities along the river. The Demonstration
Reach has a strong focus on scientific monitoring and evaluation of activities as a proof of
concept.
With the local riverine habitats being altered so much over time, human intervention to
replace some of this habitat with manmade structures was required. To date over 400
structures (photo 2) have been installed across the Condamine river system to improve
native fish habitat and numbers.
Reef, Range and Red Dust 2015, Caloundra
Photo 1 Sourcing Logs from local properties to install in the
DewFish Demonstration Reach 2010
Photo 2 Installing fish hotels at a secret location 2014
Results
The DDR has a successful track record for contributing to the Native Fish Strategy
objectives through interventions in four (4) key areas:
 Strong and aligned planning;
 On-ground interventions;
 Monitoring and evaluation; and
 Communication and community engagement.
Improved condition and connectivity along the reach includes the restoration of Loudoun
Weir Fishway (DAF 2015) (SMEC 2010), installation of fish habitat structures, riparian
restoration work and carp removal which have resulted in improved in-stream and riparian
condition. This represents 60 kms of riparian area with improved condition, 10 kms of instream habitat enhanced, 250 hectares of pest plant control and 3 fishway passages
improved providing connectivity to at least 150 kms of waterway.
Extension of the length of the DDR from 60 kms to 110 kms: Through the engagement of
local community groups and the successful on-ground activities along the Reach,
neighbouring landholders asked for their properties to be included in the DDR. The
landholders acknowledged that the DDR actions provided guidance and leadership towards
sustainable land use.
Increases in fish populations: There is evidence of increased numbers of Golden perch,
Bony Bream and Eel-tailed Catfish in areas of high intervention, especially Oakey Creek. In
Myall Creek Hyrtl’s Tandan (Moonfish) have returned. This species has not been observed
in the reach for 15 years. Dwarf flathead-gudgeon and silver perch have also been captured
in and above the Reach for the first time during 2012 monitoring.
Suppressed pest fish numbers: Carp populations were reduced by 40-90% at key sites and
remain low across the Reach despite significant flooding. This has reduced competition with
native fish for resources and habitat disturbance. This action has been supported by
community education and involvement.
In excess of $1.3 million has been invested by key players: In addition to funding from
MDBA, leverage by Toowoomba Regional Council, Western Downs Regional Council,
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Oswald Bros, Young Women Christian
Association, Powerlink, Conservation Volunteers, scouts, Aboriginal Community, World
Wildlife Fund, Schools, landholders and community groups was substantial for on-ground
works and related activities.
Reef, Range and Red Dust 2015, Caloundra
Coordinated approach and effort: Science based planning and research (NSW DPI 2007)
(photo 3, 4) and inclusive engagement led to the alignment of key planning documents at a
regional state and national level.
Photo 3 Testing the soil and bank stability to determine
intervention methods
Photo 4 Undertaking fish surveys
Evidence that the interventions protected the riparian zone particularly the severe flooding in
2011 tested the resilience of the Dewfish Demonstration Reach. The on-ground works
proved to be robust, snags remained embedded, riparian plantings remained in place,
erosion at sites where planting occurred was less pronounced and post flood carp numbers
remained low. Solid baseline data: five years of data for the reach across a range of climatic
conditions and linked to the intervention activities provides a strong set of baseline data to
measure change in resource condition.
Community support: Local school visits, Native Fish Awareness Week activities, pest fish
fishing days, on farm visits, flood recovery clean-ups, engagement information has
engendered support for and ownership of the Dewfish Demonstration Reach resulting in
over 2,200 people across a broad spectrum of the local community becoming involved.
Through an education process with the Western Downs Regional Council, a 1 metre
unmown buffer has been created along most of Dalby township area of Myall Creek. This
buffer has enabled natural regeneration of aquatic vegetation. The results were evident in
the dramatic increase by up to 600 per cent in many small bodied native fish populations in
recent surveys.
Increased fish catches: the local fishing club have reported an increase in the number and
size of Murray Cod and Silver Perch in the intervention areas using cod holes, snags,
lunkers (photo 5) and fish hotels (photo 6).
Photo 5 Lunkers construction facility Dalby 2015
Photo 6 Fish Hotel installation
Reef, Range and Red Dust 2015, Caloundra
Monitoring continues to be the foundation of this project with results confirming that
rehabilitation efforts are working well and our native fish are returning to our waterways.
Reach wide increases in small-bodied species including Carp Gudgeons increased 10 times,
rainbowfish increased 100 times, Bony Bream increased four times, greatest improvement at
intervention sites, Murray Cod returning to the system and Golden Perch numbers are
increasing in Oakey Creek, Catfish numbers remain low but evidence of recruitment in
Hyrtl's Tandan and Eel-tailed Catfish, Pest fish throughout the Reach remain low; except
below Loudoun Weir where there are still large numbers of carp and Goldfish are now a rare
catch and no tilapia have been caught through monitoring to date
Discussion
The use of human intervention methods to replicate local habitat can be used to replace
natural habitat that is missing in the river system.
Introduced interventions include: old road culverts which can be reused as cod breeding
holes, lunkers made from sawn timber can also be used to substitute for under bank refuges
in high use areas such as town water body areas, fish hotels using recycled fence posts and
railway sleepers provide long lasting refuge areas and snags from old trees can be valuable
to replace in steam habitat while lost shopping trollies inadvertently provide habitat of small
fish.
The benefit of these structures covers a wide area of habitat needs:
 A place to rest out of main water flows
 Sites to hid from predators or avoid direct sunlight
 Markers to define territories for species such as Murray Cod or Golden Perch on
migration
 Breeding sites for adhesive eggs
 Surface area for algae, fungal and insects to colonise
 Stabilising sediments
 Attack zones for predators
 Breeding structure for protecting juveniles
 A diversity of bottoms: gravel, sand, mud etc for nests
 Areas for colonisation for plants
 Diversity of riverine habitat for wide variety of species
 Snags create eddies and diversion of currents
 Still areas of water flow and areas of increased flow
Many native fish will be found near or around snags of all shapes and construction and it
matters little if these are natural or recycled human materials (Aquatic 2014). The location of
structure is important to different fish: Murray Cod like homes near the banks and juvenile
fish like diverse small structures such as branches. Riparian vegetation is important and
requires plant growing near edges to provide stabilisation for river banks, areas of organic
matter and falling insects for food. The vegetation filters out pollutants, pesticides, fertilisers
and act as the buffer strips in the system. Over hanging trees provide shade, lowering water
temperatures and can assist in shading from predators by camouflaging effects of shadows.
The roots of trees bind banks, minimise bank slumps, help to maintain channel shape by
creating pools, ripples, back waters and the important under banks areas for fish. Streams
with well developed riparian vegetation will have a greater diversity of a whole of system life
compared to those without structure. Material and insects falling from trees provides food for
crustaceans and aquatic insects which in turn provide food for fish. In fresh water habitat,
more than half the diet of fish may come from falling insects into the stream area from the
riparian vegetation. Even the effect of removing cattle from trampling riparian vegetation or
moving mowing strips back from the water edge can influence the level of food sources and
quantity of water.
Reef, Range and Red Dust 2015, Caloundra
Fish hotels, lunkers, cod holes or structures come in all varieties and shapes. The essential
questions on their use can be defined in their purpose of use. Short life structures such as
trees (bushes and pine trees) provide habitat and refuge for small fish species. Hollow
spaces such as logs, culverts and branches provide refuge from predators while constructed
structures such as lunkers, cones, cross logs and hotels provide long term habitat for
breeding events.
Conclusions
The Condamine Alliance operates within the Condamine Catchment, a major river system of
the Murray-Darling Basin. In response to concerns about declining river health, Condamine
Alliance developed a strategic program for river rehabilitation based on the principles of the
Murray-Darling Basin’s “Native Fish Strategy – The Condamine River Rescue Program”.
This program plans rehabilitation of the Condamine River along its entire length within the
Condamine Catchment Natural Resource Management Region (approximately 500 kms).
Six reaches were selected for surveying and intervention.
Dicovering the purpose of why work is going to be undertaken is important. The Dewfish
Demonstration Reach was chosen for rehabilitation work based on the following findings:

Significant barriers exist to fish passage in the Condamine River;

The town of Dalby is on Myall Creek and is impacted on by urban activities but has a
high visual presence;
The Bowenville camping reserve which experiences increased traffic from a high
number of campers and recreational fishers;
Local landholders have frontage to river systems and land management practices can
impact a large area;
Constructed fish passageways over barrier represents a strategic link for fish passage
providing fish with access to additional areas of river;




Engineered interventions such as cod holes, lunkers and fish hotels can bring back lost
structural diversity in riparian water bodies.
The foundational, capacity building and on-ground works activities associated with the DDR
have brought about the following environmental changes:

improved understanding by project partners and participants regarding the baseline
health of the system and the associated management issues;

improved understanding by participants of the importance of the river and riparian
vegetation and habitat;

increased community involvement in river restoration activities;


reinstatement of fish habitat through re-snagging;
removal of pest fish;

upgrade and operation of fishway at Loudon Weir to allow for local fish passage;

improved management of livestock access to, and use of, the reach environs;

improved management of human access to, and use of, the reach environs;

improved riparian ground cover; and

increased opportunity for native fish population recovery and fish species movement.
Take home messages
The use of human intervention methods to replicate local habitat can be used to replace
natural habitat (photo 7) missing in the river system. Introduced interventions provide a
benefit to fish for breeding, survival, escape form predators, diversity, water flows, attack
areas and camouflage.
Reef, Range and Red Dust 2015, Caloundra
Many native fish will be found near or around snags of all shapes and construction and it
matters little that it is natural or recycled human materials. In fresh water habitat more than
half the diet of fish may come from falling insects into the stream area via the riparian
vegetation. Riparian vegetation is important and requires plants growing near edges to
provide stabilisation for river banks, areas of organic matter and falling insects for food. This
vegetation filters out pollutants, pesticides, fertilisers and acts as the buffer strip in the
system.
The location of structure is important to different fish: Murray Cod like homes near the banks
and small fish like diverse small structures such as branches. The roots of trees bind banks,
minimise bank slumps, help to maintain channel shape by creating pools, ripples, back
waters and the important under banks areas for fish.
Engagement of the community (photo 8) to become interested and passionate about their
local system is impotent to gain acceptance and involvement of the actions.
Photo 7 Re-snagging the Dewfish Demonstration Reach to
provide habitat for native fish species
Photo 8. Warren Bradford with a Murray cod caught in the
Dewfish Demonstration Reach after re-snagging
Acknowledgements
This project is supported by Condamine Alliance, through funding from the Arrow Energy,
Western Downs Regional Council, Friends of Myall Creek, New Hope Coal, Murray Darling
Basin Authority, Australian Government and Queensland Government
References
Agri Science Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (2015) Barriers to Fish
Passage in the Dewfish Demonstration Reach
Aquatic Biopassage Services (2014) Fish passage considerations for the Chinchilla Weir,
Condamine River
Barrett J, Murray Darling Basin Authority (2004) The practicality and feasibility of
establishing a system of freshwater protected areas in the Murray-Darling Basin
Murray Darling Basin Authority (2003) Native Fish Strategy for the Murray Darling Basin
NSW Department of Primary Industries (2007) Assessment and Prioritisation of Weirs for
Fishway development in the Upper Darling River System
SMEC (2010) Options Analysis and Concept Design for Fish passage for Weirs of the
Northern Murray Darling Basin
Reef, Range and Red Dust 2015, Caloundra