Fish Passage and Waterway Barrier Works

What are Fish Passage and Waterway Barrier Works?

Waterway barrier works are structures built in or across waterways that have the potential to impede the movement of fish. Common examples include culverts, bridges, road crossings, dams, weirs, and levee banks. Under the Fisheries Act 1994, any operational work that involves constructing or raising waterway barrier works in Queensland may require accepted development compliance, referral or approval to ensure fish passage is maintained or appropriately managed.

Fish passage is essential for the lifecycle of many Queensland fish species. Native fish move through waterways to access feeding areas, breeding sites, and nursery habitats. Barriers that block or impede fish movement can fragment populations, reduce genetic diversity, and cause localised declines in fish abundance and species richness. Queensland’s waterways support significant recreational, commercial, and Indigenous fisheries, making fish passage protection a key regulatory priority.

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) administers fish passage requirements through a tiered assessment framework. Some waterway barrier works can be undertaken as accepted development under the Accepted Development Requirements for Operational Work that is Constructing or Raising Waterway Barrier Works, while others require a development approval through the State Development Assessment Provisions (SDAP) or direct referral to DAF.

When Do You Need a Fish Passage Assessment?

Fish passage assessment is required whenever development involves constructing, modifying, or raising a structure within a mapped waterway. Common triggers include:

New Waterway Crossings

Any new culvert, bridge, or road crossing over a waterway shown on the Queensland Waterways for Waterway Barrier Works spatial dataset requires fish passage assessment. The level of assessment depends on the waterway classification (major or other), the type of structure, and whether the works can meet accepted development requirements.

Culvert Upgrades and Replacements

Upgrading or replacing existing waterway crossings triggers reassessment of fish passage provisions. This is an opportunity to retrofit fish-friendly design features into existing infrastructure, particularly where ageing culverts currently act as barriers to fish movement.

Dam and Weir Construction

Construction of new dams or weirs, or raising of existing structures, requires assessment of impacts on fish passage. For larger structures on significant waterways, a fishway may be required to maintain upstream and downstream fish movement.

Development Site Drainage

Residential and commercial developments that include drainage infrastructure connecting to mapped waterways may trigger waterway barrier works assessment requirements, particularly where constructed channels, detention basins, or outlet structures interface with natural waterway systems.

Our Process

1. Waterway Classification - We review the Queensland Waterways for Waterway Barrier Works mapping to confirm the classification of affected waterways (major waterway, other waterway, or not mapped). Waterway classification determines the applicable assessment pathway and fish passage design requirements.
2. Fish Habitat Assessment - We conduct a field assessment of the waterway to characterise fish habitat values, including pool depth, substrate, riparian cover, connectivity to upstream and downstream habitat, and the presence of existing barriers. We identify fish species likely to be present based on habitat type, location, and available records.
3. Accepted Development Assessment - Where possible, we assess whether the proposed waterway barrier works can meet the requirements for accepted development under DAF’s Accepted Development Requirements. Compliance with accepted development criteria avoids the need for a full development application and referral, reducing time and cost for the proponent.
4. Fish Passage Design Input - We provide ecological input into the engineering design of waterway crossings to ensure fish passage requirements are met. This includes specifying design parameters such as minimum low-flow cell dimensions, maximum flow velocities, outlet drop heights, natural substrate requirements, and fauna passage provisions.
5. Development Application Support - Where accepted development criteria cannot be met, we prepare the ecological components of a development application for waterway barrier works, including fish passage impact assessment, proposed mitigation measures, and offset considerations where significant residual impacts are identified.
6. Reporting and Compliance - We deliver a fish passage assessment report that documents the waterway classification, fish habitat values, compliance assessment, and design recommendations. Reports are formatted to meet DAF requirements and support the relevant approval pathway.

Related Services

• Waterway and Wetland Assessments - broader ecological assessment of waterways and wetland environments
• Marine Plant Assessments - assessment of impacts on mangroves, seagrass, and salt marsh
• Ecological Assessments - comprehensive ecological surveys for development applications
• Significant Residual Impact Assessments - determining offset obligations for waterway impacts

Get a Quote

Queensland Ecologists provides fish passage and waterway barrier works assessments for infrastructure projects, subdivisions, and developments across Queensland. We work closely with engineers and designers to deliver cost-effective solutions that meet fish passage requirements while achieving project objectives.

Contact us today for a no-obligation quote on your fish passage assessment.

Request a Quote Online or call us on (07) 3018 7538.