The Ross River Dam and river is closed from 6pm to sport and recreation users for safety reasons. Council will update river users when the river is open to the public.
Ross River Dam is open to recreational land-based fishing from 6am to 6pm, seven days a week (Between March and November) from the designated fishing area.
View the maps on this page for more details on the designated fishing zone and the fishing exclusion zone.
Rules of General Access and Recreational Use
These rules apply to all activities undertaken by you, on Townsville City Council (Council) land and waters at Ross River Dam:
That may impact on Council land or waters within the Ross River Dam Water Storage area and Catchment.
Unless agreed otherwise by Council under a separate agreement or permit for use.
Where a Council agreement or permit allows you to undertake a specific activity for a specified period of time, you can undertake those activities in accordance with the conditions of the agreement or permit. Where the agreement or permit differs from these rules the conditions on the permit or agreement take precedence.
Council may recover from you any costs or expenses incurred to rectify or remedy a breach of these rules, or any damages of losses suffered as a result or your actions.
Despite any sign, including warning and information signs, you must take reasonable care for your own safety.
Council may instruct you to leave Council land or waters immediately, for any reason, including, but not limited to, safety, construction, maintenance or related activities or a breach of a rule.
You must comply with all signs displayed on Council land and waters.
Signs may contain directions and requirements of Council for users of a recreational area or adjacent lands and waters.
You must not interfere with or alter a sign, barrier or information marker, anywhere on Council land or waters.
Failure to comply with signs, instructions and warnings may result in exclusion from use of Council’s recreational facilities.
You may only access Council land and waters designated for public access during the opening hours as displayed on signs and published on the Council website.
Alternative hours of access may be allowed in accordance with a specific agreement or permit.
You must not enter or remain on Council land or waters, except in accordance with the Rules. Council may tow vehicles that are parked outside of Council’s designated parking areas or parked on Council land outside of designated opening hours, at the car owner’s expense.
You must only enter or exit Council land or waters by the designated entrance or exit points unless there is an emergency.
Council may prohibit:
access to Council land or waters, or any part of it, for any reason, including safety, water quality, weather events, planned burns, events, construction, maintenance or related activities;
activities in a designated area; or
activities outside a designated area.
If Council finds or suspects you have breached the Rules, Council may require you to cease the relevant activity, leave Council’s land and/or take any other steps Council considers appropriate. You must comply immediately. Failure to comply with such a request may result in legal action.
Council reserves the right to refuse permission to enter Council land or waters to people that Council believes have not, cannot or are unlikely to comply with the Rules or other Council permit or agreement.
You must not do any of the following on Council land and waters:
act in a disrespectful way to other persons;
cause directly or indirectly, damage to any land or property belonging to Council or to another person;
do anything that interferes with the safety of the public or Council workers;
fail to comply with a law;
behave in an anti-social, disorderly, indecent, offensive, threatening or insulting manner including the language used;
be intoxicated or under the influence of any unlawful drug;
operate any device at a volume likely to cause a nuisance;
litter, pollute or discharge substances likely to pollute Council land and waters or damage property;
take fish from a “no fishing” designated area or outside of approved times;
possess, handle or discharge a firearm or other weapon;
allow an animal you own or that is under your control (except a Certified Guide, Hearing or Assistance dog) to enter the designated land based fishing area;
enter, fully immerse yourself or swim in the waters inside the dam storage;
defecate or relieve yourself within the dam storage area. Toilet facilities are provided and expected to be used in all circumstances;
camp or set up any extended stay facilities within any part of the Ross River Dam facility;
lighting or maintaining a fire;
enter a place, that has been indicated by a sign to be for authorised person only.
Do not consume fish or crustaceans. Catch and release only. Consuming any aquatic life in the dame including fish, red claw crayfish, and mussels may cause illness and injury including hepatoenteritis due to the high levels of blue-green algae in the water.
