Local fishos are rejoicing across Port Macquarie with funding and construction announced for a new recreational fishing wharf and two fish cleaning tables.
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Plans have officially been revealed for a $100,000 fishing wharf at the former Hastings River Fishermen's Cooperative site in Port Macquarie.
As well as a $16,000 cleaning table at North Haven and a $10,000 wheelchair accessible fish cleaning table at Aqua Crescent, Lake Cathie.
Minister for Primary Industries, Niall Blair said building tenders for the wharf closed in January, and it could be completed by October.
"Not only is recreational fishing around Port Macquarie a popular family-friendly activity, it also brings a significant amount of business to the region," he said.
"These improvements to the local fishing infrastructure will have far reaching benefits.
"Being located next to a shopping plaza, restaurants, cafes and tourist attractions, we anticipate this wharf will contribute immensely to the lively community precinct.
"Fishers with limited movement will be able to access the wharf and pedestrians will be able to walk past and watch people fishing to ensure the community gets maximum enjoyment from the facility.
"Hopefully though, the development here will provide new opportunities for those commercial fisheries that are existing to be able to land their fish and supply the restaurants directly."
Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams said the Port Macquarie wharf is the first piece of the puzzle to be completed.
"The Premier in 2017 announced $2.8 million for the redevelopment of this area, which will include a commercial wharf and a recreational wharf," she said.
"It's certainly going to be a different model to what was there compared to when the commercial co-op was there.
"There's an opportunity for commercial fishers to unload their catch here and that will be a bit of attraction for tourists and fishers alike."
Ms Williams said the North Haven fish cleaning table is also being replaced after 30 years, adding a new shelter and solar lighting.
"More than $16,000 will be used for its full demolition and replacement with a new six-person stainless steel table," she said.
"$10,000 will also be allocated towards a wheelchair-accessible fish cleaning table at Aqua Reserve on Aqua Crescent at Lake Cathie."
The projects are part of the Port Macquarie Fisherman's project and funded through the Recreational Fishing Trust, supplied by the sale of recreational fishing licenses.
Minister for Primary Industries, Niall Blair said as the developments go ahead, he was not currently concerned about the recent fish kill in Lake Cathie.
"That was a very small event, luckily it turned out to be a lot smaller than what was reported to our authorities as in the first instance," he said.
"We have challenges all around the State with hot temperatures and some of those estuaries that maybe aren't connected to ocean outlets at particular times but were not too concerned about Lake Cathie at the moment.
"As we move through February into March,we start to get better conditions - it's not one of the areas we have got at the moment on our high alert."
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