THOSE wanting to see Gosling Creek Reservoir opened to swimming can now have their say on a management plan.
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The plan will allow for water activities and non-powered boat access after Minister for Lands Paul Toole gave permission to draft it in August.
While the dam is no longer used as a town water supply and historical quality results have shown the water as good to very good, the management plan recommended water testing every year from August to May to ensure it was safe for swimming.
Two exclusion zones would need to to be established for the wetland area to the west and the dam wall to the east.
The plan includes the future addition of a walkway across the dam wall, canoe and kayak drop-off access and extra parking.
Future features could also include formalised triathlon transition zones, fish cleaning tables and a second beach water access.
Dogs would still not be permitted in the reserve, leashed or not, to protect native wildlife and keep the playground and picnic areas safe and “nuisance free”.
Dog owners would be encouraged to instead use the nearby Bloomfield Reserve, which has an off-leash area.
The dam itself, built in 1890, is one the NSW Dams Safety Committee’s list of highest-risk dams because of the risk to public safety, property and the environment if it failed.
The committee deemed the dam would be likely to fail structurally in a one in 100,000-year flood and has recommended geotechnical testing, as well as regular monitoring.
The plan can be accessed here until January 19.