Council keeps up with mega Barra
Published on 10 February 2017
This year’s Barramundi season is proving to be one of the best on record with fishing charters recording mega Barra of up to 1.2 metres being caught.
Hooked Fishing Charters Guide skipper Coby Pascoe said that since the season open there had already been several metre plus barramundi caught from all of the net free zone estuaries.
“In the future the Fitzroy River will be known as one of the best Barra fisheries on the east coast of Australia and we’ll see a boost from people all over the country wanting a piece of the action,” Mr Pascoe said.
To ensure the Rockhampton Region lands the economic potential from the Barra charge, Rockhampton Regional Council has pulled up the anchor, turned on the motor and has set sail on a number of key initiatives to develop the recreational fishing industry in the Region.
Council this week was presented with an update on the Rockhampton Recreational Fishing Development Strategy. This report showed that significant progress had been made in the areas of marine infrastructure, business and marketing development, fisheries management and improving the environments that fish live in.
Chair of Rockhampton Regional Council’s Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Tony Williams said that Council is moving at full throttle to take advantage of the economic and lifestyle opportunities that recreational fishing presents to the Region.
“Since Council endorsed the fishing development strategy we have been successful in obtaining State Government commitment to construct a new boat ramp for North Rockhampton, made progress on drafting designs for land-based fishing areas, partnered in fish monitoring programs and we’re working with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries on a project to improve fish habitats,” Cr Williams said.
“I put our rapid rate of progress down to three factors.
“The first being the willingness of the State Government to get behind the fishing strategy. Support and encouragement from the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries and local Rockhampton Member Bill Byrne, Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga and Member for Mirani Jim Pearce and numerous State Government agencies have been nothing short of outstanding.
“The second being, the hard work put in by fishing, boating and environmental groups to achieve goals set out in the strategy and the third, the heavens have aligned and now is the right time to forge ahead.”
Business development is a key outcome sought by the Rockhampton Recreational Fishing Development Strategy. With this in mind a major amendment to Council’s planning scheme is in the works that will support the creation of suitable short term accommodation for anglers with room for boat storage and other support businesses in areas close to the river.
Chair of Rockhampton Regional Council’s Planning and Regulatory Committee, Cr Ellen Smith said that allowing short term accommodation in further locations that can leverage community assets like boat ramps will help to drive the creation of new businesses.
“A prime example of this is the Quay Street Boat Ramp area in Depot Hill. Previously short term accommodation businesses were not permitted for properties that were close to this facility, through the amendment it is hoped this will soon be changed and Council looks forward to welcoming applications for fishing lodges in this area,” she said.
“I firmly believe that these actions will help to diversify the Region’s fishing tourism product.
“The Barra being caught by Hooked Fishing Charters shows that mega sized fish are out there and with Council’s ongoing commitment our Region will land a significant increase in fishing tourism expenditure.”
Image: Coby Pascoe with his mega Barra