: Water skiing trial for Ross River Dam

WATER SKIING TRIAL FOR ROSS RIVER DAM

1. What is happening regarding water skiing on Ross River Dam?

NQ Water has decided to allow the Townsville Water Ski Club to use the Ross River Dam on a trial basis starting from June 2001. The Club already uses the Dam for competition events for 12 weekends each year - this has been the case for many years. Six to 14 boats participate in these events, racing over either a 13.5 km or 5.3 km course.

There has also been some limited use of the Dam for training by our world champions. Ross River Dam offers the only stretch of calm water suitable for long course events. This is particularly significant given the number of champion skiers based in the local area, including the state and national barefoot water ski champions, and the world disabled slalom and jump champion.

For the period of the trial, Townsville Water Ski Club will be able to use a restricted area of Ross River Dam. An exclusion zone has been created from the spillway out to 500m.

Non-members of the Townsville Water Ski Club will not have access to the Dam for water skiing until completion of the trial and installation of required infrastructure.

2. Why is it necessary to change the current situation?

Allowing Townsville Water Ski Club to move its activities to Ross River Dam on a trial basis will relieve the crowding and conflict on Ross River caused by rapid growth in popularity.

Over the past 12 months, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of people seeking to use Ross River for a variety of recreational purposes. Popular activities on the river range from jet skiing and water skiing, through to rowing, canoeing, swimming, fishing and simply wading or picnicing by the water's edge.

Conflicts have arisen due to the extremely restricted river area available for all these diverse recreationalists. At times, there have been dangerous situations with conflicts and potential accidents involving individuals seeking to participate in their favourite recreational activity in a very crowded locations.

3. Who will supervise recreational activities on Ross River Dam and the river?

NQ Water Dam Rangers are responsible for supervising Ross River Dam. This has always been the case and supervision has been performed successfully to date.

Up until now, Townsville Water Ski Club has been provided the responsibility of supervising recreational use of Ross River under contract. This system worked well while there were a small number of recreational users, particularly before the days of jet skis and other recreational users who are now all competing for use of the same restricted area.

Given the growth in demand for river-based recreation and the associated complexity of management, it is becoming clear that a body with greater authority than a recreational club now needs to take an active role in managing recreation on Ross River. NQ Water will now take on that role, with our Rangers supervising recreation.

New by-laws increasing the powers of the rangers to enforce discipline at the dam and Ross River are currently with the Department of Natural Resources and Mines for consideration and approval.

To help manage the competing interests of different recreational users on Ross River, NQ Water has formed the Ross River Management Advisory Group, comprising representatives of local sporting associations, local residents and relevant government agencies. An immediate goal for the group is to develop a set of recommendations outlining nominated and flexible areas to be set aside for particular activities on Ross River.

At the same time, attention will be given that will provide a level of compatibility with the City of Thuringowa's River Precinct Development strategy, which is currently at the conceptual stage of development; and any further development by Townsville City Council. This aims to promote full enjoyment of the river by the community with a series of initiatives being considered covering a wide range of options for local residents.

4. What facilities will be provided at the dam and the Ross River?

Townsville Water Ski Club currently has a clubhouse located at Pioneer Park and consideration is being given to how this facility should be used by City of Thuringowa following the move by the Club for the trial period on Ross River Dam.

At Ross River Dam, road access is provided to a clearing and an existing basic boat ramp at the old quarry on the mouth of the Dam. The Ski Club has permission to erect temporary shade areas and amenities for the trial period.

NQ Water plans to upgrade facilities such as walking tracks, public amenities and a permanent office for the park ranger. In addition, a public access ramp will be provided.

At Ross River, public access will be provided at the Pioneer Park boat ramp, the only boat ramp on Ross River suitable for launching ski boats.

5. What is the risk of water quality being affected by allowing motorised boats on Ross River Dam?

NQ Water's primary concern is to ensure the continued supply of high quality water to Townsville and Thuringowa. If there is any evidence of degradation to water quality resulting from water skiing at Ross River Dam, NQ Water will take prompt and appropriate action, including, if necessary, revoking permission for use of the dam by the Townsville Water Ski Club.

NQ Water is a principle sponsor and Board member of Australia's peak water quality body, the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment in Adelaide. Advice has been taken from the Deputy Director of this organisation, Dr Dennis Steffensen, on the potential impacts of allowing motorised craft on the dam. Dr Steffensen is an authority of world standing on water quality.
NQ Water has already commissioned tests to determine the effect on water quality of Townsville Water Ski Club's previously use of the Dam. No traces of hydrocarbons from the petrol engines were found, and the measurable levels of pathogens and turbidity also showed no change before and immediately after the skiers had used the Dam.

NQ Water is extremely conscious of its responsibility to manage its water resources in a manner that protects public health, and will strictly monitor water quality while the water ski trial is in place. Monitoring will include testing for hydrocarbons on a weekly basis to establish if there is any effect from water skiing on the dam.

In addition to water quality testing, NQ Water has recently commissioned a two-year study by the Townsville office of engineering consulting firm, Sinclair Knight Merz, to specifically investigate the relationship between motorised craft on the Dam and hydrocarbons.

6. How does NQ Water protect the quality of Townsville and Thuringowa's water supply?

Water from Ross River Dam is treated at the Douglas Water Treatment Plant where it undergoes a comprehensive treatment process involving a number of steps including:

• Coagulent and flocculation - a complex process where coagulent is added to untreated water. This reacts with impurities and forms "floc" particles.
• Sedimentation - suspended floc particles are allowed to settle, forming a sludge which is removed.
• Filtration - water passes through a sand filter to remove remaining impurities.
• Disinfection and fluoridation - chlorine and fluoride are added in the final stage of the purification process.

An $8.5 million upgrade of the Treatment Plant has recently been completed, with a further $1 million to be spent on improved filtration over the next two years.

Depending on the availability of water at Ross River Dam, approximately 60 to 70 percent of Townsville and Thuringowa's water is supplied by the Dam. This in turn is dependent on rainfall levels. At any one time, between 20 and 40 percent is supplied by Lake Paluma.

Water from Lake Paluma is of an extremely high quality, undergoing a natural filtration process as it moves down Crystal Creek. The water is chlorinated before entering the cities' reticulation system, with fluoride being added to water at Mt Louisa Reservoir (water to the Northern Beaches is chlorinated but not fluoridated).

Water skiing and other recreational activities have a long history at Lake Paluma, without any measurable adverse effects.

In drought conditions, water has also been brought in from the Burdekin Dam. Again, water skiing and other recreational activities are permitted on Burdekin Dam and there have not been any adverse effects.

International developments in water quality management are increasingly focused on a holistic approach whereby all facets contributing to water quality are managed and protected.

NQ Water is leading the way with cutting-edge catchment management practices, having introduced a range of initiatives, including achieving Certification under ISO 14001 for its Environmental Management System.

7. Will other recreational activities be allowed at Ross River Dam?

NQ Water has researched the options for recreational use of Ross River Dam in detail over the past two years. A comprehensive community consultation program has shown that most people in Townsville and Thuringowa would prefer to have access to the Dam for recreational use.

Given this result, NQ Water has investigated the experiences at other dams in Australia and overseas to determine potential risks and appropriate management practices. The following chart provides an overview of the status of recreational use of Australian dams.

The overall lack of alternative large water areas suitable for recreational use has spearheaded the decision to take on the additional costs and responsibilities associated with opening the Dam for recreational use. The benefit is that local residents of Townsville and Thuringowa will be provided with an additional nature-based recreational option.

In addition, an 18-month study is being conducted by independent experts to assess the implications of fish stocking at Ross River Dam.

The aim is to ensure that NQ Water meets its community service obligations while protecting water quality for the Townsville and Thuringowa community.

Other interesting NQ Water facts

Did you know?

• NQ Water supplies bulk water to the City Councils to service 90,413 Townsville and 45, 653 Thuringowa residents.
• In 1998/1999 the cities of Townsville and Thuringowa used over 33,864 megalitres of water.
• The Ross River Dam and Lake Paluma have total holding capacities of 214,000 and 11,820 megalitres respectively. As an indication, the average backyard swimming pool holds approximately 7,000 litres - it would take 1700 pools to fill Lake Paluma.
• During the summer periods the rate of evaporation off Ross River Dam can be as much as 2cm per day!

© 2003 NQ Water