THE CLARE WEIR FISHWAY

Funding that will allow the retrofitting of fishways on dams and weirs is back on the agenda. In a recent press release by Stephen Robertson, the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, it was announced that a fishway at Clare Weir on the Burdekin River would be constructed.

Funding would be allocated from SunWater's $3.58M operating profit for the 2002-03 financial year.

The Clare Weir has long been a major barrier to fish migration on the Burdekin. This new fishway will replace the existing fish ladder at the weir, which was based on American design, and has not proved to be suitable for Australian native fish species. It is anticipated that the construction of this fishway will bring life back into a significant portion of the Burdekin catchment.

Extensive studies have already been carried out by SunWater and Queensland Fisheries Service to determine the most effective fishway design. The design will also allow fish migration down stream as well as up stream. Construction of a lock system fishway is expected to commenced by May 2004.

Investigations by QFS during the initial survey phase found that that fish species such as barramundi, sleepy cod, bony herring, empire gudgeon and long finned eels were all blocked in their upstream migration due to the weir.

The Burdekin Fish Restocking Association has long been an advocate to have some remediation work undertaken at Clare Weir. It must be very satisfying for them to be rewarded for their persistence, but just as importantly, a win for the environment.

The Department of Natural Resources and Mines has not allocated any funds to fishway projects in recent years. It is now hoped that at least some of the SunWater dividends each year will be allocated towards rehabilitating the enormous damage incurred by the construction of dams and weirs.