Details
Last Updated: Friday, 09 August 2024 15:53
Boat on dam
Our lakes and dams are wonderful places to enjoy a wide range of recreation activities. But it's important to plan ahead before visiting a lake or dam in our region. As these are outdoor recreation areas they may be affected by weather and issues such as algae outbreaks. When planning your visit remember to check:
  • if the lake or dam is open or closed.
  • which activities are allowed.
  • if permits are required.
  • if fees apply.
+ - Lake Cooby Click to collapse

Open or closed status

At certain times we may need to close a lake area for your safety. If a closure occurs, the area that is unable to be accessed will be marked below.

Open - for boating and fishing 
Open - Loveday Cove (including picnic area) 
Open - road access to Cooby Dam 

 

Allowed recreation activities (during open status)

Lake Cooby

  • boating (electric motors only)
  • boating (non-powered - rowing, sailing, canoeing)
  • windsurfing
  • fishing
  • picnics and BBQs
  • playground
  • bush walking. 

More information

Lake Cooby webpage

 
+ - Lake Cressbrook Click to collapse

Open or closed status

At certain times we may need to close a lake area for your safety. If a closure occurs, the area that is unable to be accessed will be marked below.

Open - for stand-up paddleboarding and sailboarding etc.
Open - picnic area
Open - campground 
Open - fishing 
Open - boating

Allowed recreation activities (during open status)

Lake Cressbrook

  • boating (fuel-powered)
  • boating (non-powered - rowing, sailing, canoeing)
  • fishing
  • camping
  • picnics and BBQs
  • bushwalking.

More information

Lake Cressbrook webpage

 
+ - Lake Perseverance Click to collapse

Open or closed status

At certain times we may need to close a lake area for your safety. If a closure occurs, the area that is unable to be accessed will be marked below.

Open - water-based activities
Open - land-based activities and picnic area

 

Allowed recreation activities (during open status)

Lake Perseverance

Activities on Lake Perseverance are only available to the Perseverance Aquatic Club and those participating in organised activities conducted through the Lake Perseverance Centre.

Other groups, including schools, can apply* to use the facilities which include:

  • accommodation
  • conference room
  • outdoor multipurpose court
  • sports oval
  • canoes and archery equipment. 

*Approval is considered on a case-by-case basis.

For more information about bookings, phone 4697 8900.

More information

Lake Perseverance webpage 

+ - Cecil Plains Weir Click to collapse
Open- picnic area
Open - campground
Boating and fishing - Restrictions and guidelines for water based activities in this location are managed by Sunwater and can be found on their website https://www.sunwater.com.au/weirs-and-barrages/upper-condamine/ 

Allowed recreation activities (during open status)

  • fishing
  • camping
  • picnics.

More information

Cecil Plains Weir webpage

+ - Lemontree Weir - Bostock bridge crossing Click to collapse
Open - picnic area
Boating and fishing - Restrictions and guidelines for water based activities in this location are managed by Sunwater and can be found on their website https://www.sunwater.com.au/weirs-and-barrages/upper-condamine/ 

Allowed recreation activities

  • fishing

More information

Lemontree Weir - Bostock bridge crossing webpage.

+ - Yarramalong Weir Click to collapse
Open - picnic area
Open - campground
Boating and fishing - Restrictions and guidelines for water-based activities in this location are managed by Sunwater and can be found on their website https://www.sunwater.com.au/weirs-and-barrages/upper-condamine/ 

Allowed recreation activities (during open status)

  • boating (fuel powered)
  • boating (non-powered - rowing, sailing, canoeing)
  • swimming
  • fishing
  • camping
  • picnics.

More information

Yarramalong Weir webpage

+ - Water standards and definitions for recreational activity Click to collapse

Each week we test the water quality of our dams to ensure they meet the standards set in our Recreational Water Quality Management Plan. This takes into account direct contact with the water without water treatment. This process includes testing for the presence of algal and bacterial organisms and the toxins produced when these organisms die off.

When the water quality drops below the required standards, we close the dam for affected activities.

Warning and action trigger levels

Required standards consider primary, secondary and aesthetic water content (see definitions below) for toxins such as:

Microbial trigger levels (CFU/100mL):

  • Warning to dam users for primary contact - Enterococci result ≥ 200*
  • Warning to dam users for secondary contact - Enterococci result ≥ 1000
  • Action to close recreational activity for primary contact - Enterococci result ≥ 500.

Cyanobacteria trigger levels to close recreational activity:

  • Threshold to initiate toxin testing - Total Cyanobacterial Species and Biovolume (mm3/L-1) ≥1
  • Primary contact:
    • Microcystin (leucine containing) (LR) mass toxicity equivalents ≥8 μg/L
    • Saxitoxin (carbamate saxitoxin group) (STX) toxicity equivalents ≥30 μg/L
    • Cylindrospermopsin ≥15 μg/L
    • Nodularin ≥13 μg/L
    • Anatoxin-a ≥10 μg/L
  • Secondary contact:
    • Microcystin (leucine containing) (LR) mass toxicity equivalents ≥20 μg/L
    • Saxitoxin (carbamate saxitoxin group) (STX) toxicity equivalents ≥75 μg/L
    • Cylindrospermopsin ≥25 μg/L
    • Nodularin ≥30 μg/L
    • Anatoxin-a ≥25 μg/L.

 

Primary and secondary contact definitions

Three key terms are used in our management of recreational use of our dams*:

  1. Whole‑body contact (primary contact) — activity in which the whole body or the face and trunk are frequently immersed or the face is frequently wet by spray, and where it is likely that some water will be swallowed or inhaled, or come into contact with ears, nasal passages, mucous membranes or cuts in the skin (eg: stand-up paddleboarding, sailboarding).

  2. Incidental contact (secondary contact) — activity in which only the limbs are regularly wet and in which greater contact (including swallowing water) is unusual (eg: boating, fishing, adults wading).

  3. No contact (aesthetic uses) — activity in which there is normally no contact with water (eg angling from shore), or where water is incidental to the activity (such as sunbathing on a beach).