There is hope that a method of funding some of Gaden's costs can be found and all eyes are on the angling community after a meeting last Friday morning between Member for Monaro, Steve Whan, president of the NSW Council of Freshwater Anglers, Steve Samuels and Primary Industries Minister, Ian Macdonald.

After more than 800 signatures and copies of numerous letters were taken to the meeting at the Department of Primary Industries, Mr Macdonald has agreed not to close Gaden Trout hatchery "at this time".

Mr Samuels said that the parties had agreed to meet again on December 15 when he hoped to put forward some options.

"I'm very confident anglers can go back to the Minister with an argument to save Gaden," Mr Samuels said.

However, as part of the negotiations, Mr Samuel wants to see long-term guarantees for the future of the hatchery.

While there was talk of the cost of Gaden being in the region of $1 million, the real cost to the department is $420,000, according to Mr Whan, because the anglers already provide funding.

Mr Whan said that he was keen to see the employees retain their status as government employees and also for the land, which is Crown land, to be retained by the NSW Government.

Without being specific, Mr Whan said he thought there were other developments that could take place at Gaden that would fit in with the environment.

Mr Whan who is Parliamentary Secretary at the Department of Primary Industries, has vigorously denied any suggestions that the Gaden affair was a deliberate ploy to make him look good after he came to the rescue and also denied having any prior knowledge of the cuts.

"Parliamentary Secretaries don't have any input into the budget process and Ministers don't inform local members of any cuts in their area," Mr Whan said.