Hard hit marine life get new habitat in Harvey River as five star fish hotels are dunked into stream

Several “world-class hotels” now find themselves under the murky water of the Harvey River, but that’s no issue for the vagabonds who need a spot to rest as they travel upstream.

Fish hotels were dunked into the river in an attempt to boost habitats for various marron and fish who have struggled for years to find a foothold in the waterway.

Speaking at the deployment, water minister Simone McGurk said the project aims to improve the environment and build climate resilient waterways to support the native animals reliant on the river.

The deployment is a joint effort from the Harvey River Restoration Taskforce, Water Corporation, the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, Murdoch University, Greening Australia, the Harvey Aboriginal Corporation, the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, the Shire of Harvey and Shire of Waroona.

Students from the WA College of Agriculture and members of the Waroona Men’s Shed helped construct the hotels.

DWER river science manager Dr Tim Storer said previous environmental monitoring throughout the river system showed there was a significant lack of marron, and a range of other fish expected to be found in the waterways.

He said there was a clear reason behind the reduced numbers.

“These systems were transformed a long time ago, to improve drainage through the catchment, which means they cleared the rivers out and got rid of in-stream habitat,” he said.

“That’s the stuff that the marron and other fish attempt to take shelter in.

“We’re not gong to create flooding or issues with erosion, it’s all just positive outcomes for the environment.”

Earlier trials started two years ago further downstream and have already proved successful Dr Storer said, with large marron, catfish and night fish found in areas previously barren in just a single season.

Water Corporation’s Regional Manager Nicky Waite said when drainage were first established 100 years ago, there was very little consideration to the environment or wildlife at the time.

She said Water Corporation’s understanding of these waterways had changed significantly.

“This is a wonderful example of how government agencies and community agencies can work together to protect, enhance and encourage native species back to their natural waterways,” Ms Waite said.