Heatwave blamed for fish deaths in Dawson River Pond

One Central Qld expert has a theory as to what killed up to 400 fish found floating dead in a local river.

The Dawson River Pond, part of the Dawson River and located between the Neville Hewitt Weir and the Baralaba Woorabinda Rd was filled with the carcasses of what was estimated to be 300-400 dead fish in March 2025.

It looked almost biblical.

When former Baralaba Recreation and Fish Stocking Group Inc President Robert Price looked at the Dawson River Pond, it wasn’t hard to see that something devastating had occurred.

The Dawson River Pond, part of the Dawson River and located between the Neville Hewitt Weir and the Baralaba Woorabinda Rd was filled with the carcasses of what he estimated to be 300-400 dead fish.

The Dawson River Pond, part of the Dawson River and located between the Neville Hewitt Weir and the Baralaba Woorabinda Rd was filled with the carcasses of what was estimated to be 300-400 dead fish in March 2025.

Though the death of a large number of fish would naturally raise concerns Mr Price said he believed it was a natural event brought together by a chain reaction of incidents rather than anything sinister.

“Water stopped flowing over the Neville Hewitt Weir Friday (March 7),” he said.

“Then we had 42-43 degrees which took the oxygen out of the water.

“Then the bream and catfish started dying, which stagnated the water which led to further fish kills for other species.”

To make sure his theory was correct Mr Price travelled 2km up and down the Dawson River, noticing no dead fish.

Mr Price also regularly takes water samples of the Dawson River and sends them to Brisbane for testing.

“I don’t feel there are any chemicals. I have been taking water samples ever since it’s been flowing and nothing’s come back from Brisbane to say any indication there are any chemicals,” he said.

Mr Price also noted that the temperature in the two to three weeks leading up to the mass deaths was around 40-45 degrees.

Though the deaths of so many fish was devastating, Mr Price said things were looking up.

The Dawson River Pond, part of the Dawson River and located between the Neville Hewitt Weir and the Baralaba Woorabinda Rd was filled with the carcasses of what was estimated to be 300-400 dead fish in March 2025.

“The good news is there is (now) 870mm of water flowing over the weir so the fish still left in the pond are all good now,” he said.

“We have a good flow in the river.”

As for Mr Price, he will continue to take care of the Dawson, a place he holds deep in his heart.

“I will always do what I can for the Dawson,” he said.