BARRA-MONDAY

After decades of debate the day has finally come where residents can cast a line into the Ross River Dam in search of an elusive metre-long barramundi.

Acting Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney said it was a momentous day for the fishing community who had been rallying for permission to fish the dam for at least ten years.

“After years of debate, consultation and more recently construction, the Ross River Dam is now open to land-based recreational fishing,” Cr Greaney said.

“We heard our community loud and clear, so in August last year councillors voted to open the dam to recreational land-based fishing, originally set to open mid-year, I’m so pleased we could open it up six weeks ahead of schedule.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing our community get around this terrific public space and hopefully build on the opportunities for locals in years to come.”

Townsville Barramundi Restocking Group’s Rhyce Bullimore said he had been working for close to nine years to get access to Ross Dam for recreational use.

“We put our first barra in the dam approximately eight years ago following all the relevant approvals,” Mr Bullimore said.

“I’m really looking forward to taking my two boys up for a fish, and just somewhere different to fish and give families somewhere to go and enjoy the great community asset which has the potential to unlock so many great benefits.

“I’m extremely pleased, and I think there are massive economic, tourism and community benefits for the city by unlocking all three levels of recreational use.”

When asked if he was concerned about barramundi stocks after the recent weather event Rhyce said barramundi didn’t naturally sit where the gates operate and unlike concrete spillway dams, the fish don’t simply get washed over the top.

“Following the 2019 event there was a lot of stock left after that event, one of the huge benefits of this is the great stocked impoundment fishery that are our weirs - the spill from the dam has seen a great increase in fish in all 3 weirs that locals have been hooking into," he said.

“We have stocked more than 120,000 barramundi in the Ross Dam and in my opinion about 50 percent of the fish that survived from our stockings would be over a metre, for those who want to tick that off their bucket list.”

Division four councillor, Kristian Price said it was surreal to see an election commitment to get the community on the dam come to fruition.

“This has been a long time coming, and so many people deserve the credit for making this happen,” Cr Price said.

“Growing up in the Upper Ross I know the untapped potential of the area, so it’s so great to see this project come to life and to be able to finally cast a line off the fishing spit.

“I can’t wait to see our community up here enjoying themselves and creating memories. We just ask that people respect the space and the facilities, if we want to see further stages of recreational use on the dam in years to come, we need to make sure people are being respectful around our city’s water source.”

Division ten Councillor Brady Ellis, whose division borders division four and captures part of Ross Dam said the new space was sure to be popular with people of all levels of fishing ability.

“We’ve done it, we’ve o-fish-ially opened the dam to recreational fishing and I couldn’t be happier,” Cr Ellis said.

“The beauty of this place is it caters to everybody, from our mad-keen anglers, to families casting their first line, it’s free, it’s fun and it gets people out and active.

“Hopefully with the community’s cooperation we will be able to implement further stages of recreational use of Ross River Dam in the years to come.”

Stages 2 and 3 will be reliant on safe and respectful use of the facilities and Council securing external funding for the required infrastructure to support the expansion of recreation on the dam in years to come.

Ross Dam will be open to recreational land-based fishing from the designated fishing area from 12 May 2025.