The Mount Isa Water Board is also the trustee for the R48 Water and Recreational Reserve, which includes the area surrounding Lake Moondarra. The Board operates and maintains the public facilities within the Reserve, mainly at Transport Bay, Blackrock and Warrina Park.

No. Camping, open fires, dogs and shooting are not allowed in the Reserve.

In Queensland, reserves are generally governed by a set of model by-laws which are set out under the Land Regulation 2009. By-laws help to ensure these environments are protected and managed in an effective and sustainable manner.

The by-laws govern how the R48 Reserve can be used and includes information relating to:
● Animals – protection, prohibition, and control of (including dogs)
● Camping
● Damaging or interfering with land or improvements
● Displaying or distributing literature
● Disturbing peaceful use of trust land
● Entering closed areas
● Lighting fires
● Litter
● Selling things
● Vehicle use

As the trustee for the Reserve, MIWB needs to be able to continue to effectively and sustainably manage the area and ensure its continued use as a safe water source and recreational area for the Mount Isa community.

No. A this stage camping on the Reserve continues to be prohibited unless MIWB has expressly granted permission (as we do during the Moondarra Fishing Classic).

Notwithstanding this, MIWB understands that the R48 Reserve is important to the local community and that there may be community support for reviewing how permits are issued and the conditions under which camping could be made more generally permissible. MIWB is considering if it needs to put in place more appropriate administrative mechanisms related to camping permit provision and management.

The key steps in the by-law adoption process were:
1. By-laws are proposed and drafted, in this case MIWB propose to adopt the standard Model By-laws from the Land Regulation 2009
2. Public consultation process commenced with notification (consultation relates to the proposed adoption of the by-laws)
3. Public provided with access to proposed by-laws
4. All public submissions made during consultation process were considered by MIWB as trustee for the Reserve
5. MIWB, as trustee, made a decision by resolution, to proceed or not
6. By-laws were formally adopted (includes submission of proposed by-laws and record of the resolution to proceed, to Minister and formal gazetting process)
7. Public notification that the by-laws have been adopted (Government Gazette).

Typically, by-laws are in place for perpetuity or until such time that the government-of-the-day seeks to review or change the Model By-Laws under the Land Regulation 2009.