Sydney Fish Market project reels in tonnes of rubbish from the harbour
Irrigators will save water, time and money at the same time as protecting native fish populations now and well into the future, thanks to the NSW Government’s $20 million Fish-Friendly Water Extraction project.
Minister for Agriculture and Western NSW Dugald Saunders said as part of the program, state-of-the-art fish protection screens would be installed on 49 water pumps across the State, not just contributing to the health of the river systems and the longevity of fish populations, but also increasing farmers’ productivity.
“These modern fish screens are fitted with fine mesh and self-cleaning technology that effectively filters unwanted debris and fish out of pumps and pipes, delivering cleaner water onto properties and reducing the need for farmers to spend time unblocking sprinklers,” Mr Saunders said.
“Research has shown us that these modern fish screens also protect up to 90 per cent of native fish passing through, which is critical as we continue to restock them in waterways after millions were killed during the drought.
“This project is a great example of how the NSW Government is supporting the agriculture industry to adopt modern, on-farm technology, translating innovative research into practical measures.”
Minister for Water Kevin Anderson said the fish screens would not only protect millions of native fish and the environment, but also deliver cleaner water to farms.
“The state-of-the-art irrigation screens will deliver 2,900 megalitres per day of cleaner water by eliminating debris from the irrigation systems,” Mr Anderson said.
“Farmers and properties with fish screens have already reported a range of benefits, including a reduced need to backflush, reduced costs of in-line filtration and energy savings of up to $3,000 per month.
“This project will also boost employment in the region, with local businesses to be engaged to assist with the screen installations. It’s about looking after the environment, farmers and businesses at the same time.”
More than two tonnes of rubbish, including 300,000 plastic objects, has been removed from Sydney Harbour as part of the new Sydney Fish Market development.
Minister for Infrastructure Rob Stokes said the Sydney Fish Market project was on track for completion in 2024 and was an example of the NSW Government’s efforts to decarbonise the state’s $112.7 billion infrastructure pipeline.
“Our infrastructure pipeline isn’t just about leaving a great legacy of roads, railways and buildings – it’s also about transforming the way we build them to have less of an impact on our environment,” Mr Stokes said.
“We’ve used the Sydney Fish Market project to clean up Blackwattle Bay and we’re doing it while using Australian-first renewable diesel on the project.
“These initiatives, alongside the use of sustainable construction materials, will help the project avoid more than 100,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.”
Minister for Environment James Griffin said a project priority has been not just protecting, but improving the water quality of the harbour surrounding the site, including through a partnership with the Seabin Project.
“In just 12 months, Seabins have removed more than 300,000 plastic items from the harbour around the Sydney Fish Market site and filtered more than one billion litres of water for microplastics,” Mr Griffin said.
“As part of construction, we’re doing extensive monitoring and cleaning up of the site, resulting in the removal of tonnes of litter from the seabed.
“We’ve seen everything from shopping trolleys to old slabs of concrete extracted from the water, which is helping restore the quality of our harbour for marine biodiversity.”
The NSW Government is supporting Seabin’s 100 Smarter Cities For Cleaner Oceans Program, which started in Sydney and to date has collected 100 tonnes of marine litter from Sydney Harbour.
Five seabins will remain in operation in Blackwattle Bay throughout construction and will be permanently installed on completion of the new Sydney Fish Market.
Multiplex Regional Director Daniel Murphy said the company is committed to preserving Blackwattle Bay as it delivers the world class project.
“We are making positive progress on site, including the installation of more than 230 marine piles, two of three tower cranes and nearing completion of the cofferdam,” Mr Murphy said.
The New Sydney Fish Market is delivering a waterfront promenade, ferry wharf and more than 6,000 square metres of new public open space. It will create about 700 jobs during construction, and will support 700 jobs once operational.
For more information, visit www.insw.com/newsydneyfishmarket
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