Dam wait for barra fans

ANGLERS hoping to target monster barramundi in Ross Dam in a boat will have to wait until at least next year.

Division 4’ s Cr Mark Molachino, who has previously helped release barra fingerlings in the dam, said a report was still being “fine tuned”.

The report would highlight what infrastructure was needed to be built to allow safe access to the dam.

Cr Molachino hoped the report would be handed to the council in January.

Townsville Barramundi Restocking Group president Rhyce Bullimore said more barramundi would be stocked in the dam next year.

He hoped the dam would be open to boats users by the end of 2019 but until then would focus on stocking it with more barramundi.

“The next scheduled release in March or April, so that’ll be another $ 50,000 worth of fish, so about 50,000 ( barramundi),” Mr Bullimore said.

He said the stocking group had noticed the juvenile fish were flourishing, with fingersized fish reaching 60cm within a year.

“They swim around all day eating, like in a buffet,” he said.

Mr Bullimore said water quality was expected to dictate the terms of use of the dam, which is the primary supply of drinking water for Townsville.

“( The council’s) number one priority is water for the town,” he said.