Why fishos are waiting for Ross River Dam fishing

A councillor and a fishing club president both explain what needs to happen at Ross River Dam before fishing can be allowed in the area.

Townsville City Council Division 4 councillor Kristian Price eagerly promotes fishing at Ross River Dam, and said the community still needs to wait a bit longer despite work being done on the area to allow land based fishing. Picture: Chris Burns

A Townsville councillor is daydreaming of snagging a barra while standing in the shade at Ross River Dam long before next New Year’s Day.

But there’s still bureaucratic approvals that need to take place before that happens.

$1.27m in facility upgrades at a section of Townsville’s dam known as the Spit have been underway, with improved access including better stairways and a concrete pathway.

But Division 4 councillor Kristian Price said there was still plenty of work and approvals met before fishos could throw a line into the dam, where more than 130,000 fingerlings were placed within the past five years.

The dam is expected to be open to fishos by June, and Mr Price said toilets, bins and lights would need to be constructed before then.

Townsville City Council Division 4 councillor Kristian Price giving an update on the Ross River Dam land based fishing upgrades. Fishing will permitted at the dam by June. Picture: Chris Burns

“It’s going to take them time, but you know, they’re well ahead as you can see with what they’ve got done,” Mr Price said.

“We’ve asked if it can be done any quicker, they said they would love to but they can’t see it done before June, but it will be good when it’s done.

“They reckon it’s going to bring competitions here.

Townsville Fish Restocking Group president Rhyce Bullimore at Ross River Dam. Picture: Chris Burns

“I say bring it on.”

It has taken 30 years of lobbying for fishing to finally be permitted at the dam, which is owned by the Townsville City Council, but last year it permitted a three stage plan to proceed.

But when a new council was formed and adopted its budget, the $1.2m for the first phase was overlooked.

After an outcry from the fishing community, the council reallocated funding set for V8 resurfacing to kickstart the project.

Mr Price said initially he was dubious of the scheme because of the cost for ratepayers, until he realised $14.5m was estimated for UV disinfection infrastructure at the Douglas Water Treatment Plant.

“I thought it was just a lot of money being spent on just a bit of fishing, but my fault was, I didn’t look into it fully,” Mr Price said.

Townsville Fish Restocking Group president Rhyce Bullimore, who was travelling to Proserpine Dam to spend four days on a fishing trip, looked forward to being able to stay in the area next year to fish a freshwater barra.

He said a steering committee made up of interested groups and government entities already had met.

“There’s a lot of other subtle legislative changes that need to occur at a local level, obviously, what we’re waiting on more so than anything,” Mr Bullimore said.

“And you know, I’m just working with state government now to ensure that once we are progressed to a point where it’s ready to fish that we’re on the stock empowerment scheme, so we can get continued funding to keep stocking that dam.”

Originally published as Why fishos are waiting for Ross River Dam fishing