QUEENSLAND’S Crisafulli Government has removed requirements for fish passages to streamline dam and weir developments, as well as bridge and culvert projects.
In August 2025 changes were made to requirements for construction of fish passages in development applications and approvals on over 90% of waterway barrier works, culverts, disaster recovery works or dam and weir repairs.
Since the change, 121 referable dams and weirs have been assessed by the Department of Primary Industries, in partnership with the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers, and the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning.
The Government claims only 10% percent were found to require a fish passage.
Under the reform, high environmental standards continue to protect native fish stocks, and where required, fish passages are a condition of planning approvals.
The change means critical water storage projects, as well as transport projects can be delivered earlier, without additional costs, respecting Queenslanders money.
OzFish CEO Cassie Price told Fishing World the survival of many native fish species is dependent on their ability to travel freely between the habitats they need to feed, breed and grow.
“Infrastructure – such as dams, weirs, bridges and culverts – can create obstacles that may prevent fish from reaching key spawning and nursery habitats,” said Price.
“Fish passages allow fish to navigate these obstacles and to complete the journeys that are essential to their life cycles. This connectivity is vital for sustaining healthy native fish populations and for supporting recreational fishing,” she said.
“Wherever infrastructure projects create barriers to fish connectivity, OzFish strongly encourages organisations to include measures to support fish passage.
“OzFish recognises that every development presents different challenges and that fish passage requirements must reflect the specific characteristics of the development, the individual waterway, and local fish populations.
“A healthy balance will support healthy waterways, fish populations and local communities, and help ensure the future of recreational fishing in Australia,” said Price.
