Toonumbar Dam Picturesque dam in the mountains of the North Coast
For Bells Bay campground information please see current notifications.
For Bells Bay campground information please see current notifications.
Visit the Dam
Facilities
- Camping
- Barbecues
- Picnic areas
- Toilets
- Fishing
- Boat ramps
- Water sports
- Bushwalking
What Toonumbar Dam lacks in size it more than makes up for with its picturesque setting among tall timbers in rugged mountain country. Situated in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range above Casino and Lismore on the North Coast, the dam helps irrigate the Richmond Valley and supplies water to towns and farmers along Iron Pot and Eden creeks and the Richmond River. The dam is also a popular fishing and water sport destination.
Toonumbar Dam Fact Sheet (PDF, 746.67 KB)
Look out points
Dam wall
Walk across the dam wall for spectacular views across the lake fringed by the rugged bushland of Richmond Range National Park and downstream along Iron Pot Creek. The dam wall is 229 metres long and 44 metres high.
Lookout
A lookout and picnic area just north of the dam wall provides excellent views of the lake and its rugged bush shoreline.
Things to do
Opening hours
Dam grounds
Open 24 hours a day, all year round. Entry is free.
Bells Bay Camping Ground
Opening / Closing times and campground information.
Directions
View in MapsToonumbar Dam is about 30 kilometres west of Kyogle on the NSW North Coast. About 8km of the road is unsealed. Kyogle is about 750 kilometres north of Sydney via the Pacific Highway and Summerland Way.
Facilities
- Camping
- Barbecues
- Picnic areas
- Toilets
- Fishing
- Boat ramps
- Water sports
- Bushwalking
Restrictions
Restrictions are in place to protect our water supply and ensure that everyone has an enjoyable and safe visit - with penalties up to $44,000 applying:
- No model aircraft or drones
Recreation Areas at WaterNSW dams will be closed on ALL Total Fire Ban days.
The Toonumbar Experience
Things to see and do
1. Water sports
Water sports include power boats, sailing, canoeing and swimming. There is an 8kph speed limit for power boats. Canoes are available for hire. Boat ramp available 3km further north at Bells Bay.
2. Fishing
Toonumbar Dam is regularly stocked with bass which are the top catch. Fishing is best on the water by canoe or boat but the foreshores also provide fishing spots. Access is via boat ramp – at Bells Bay 3km north of the wall.
Dam Summary
Facts & History
Toonumbar Dam is situated on Iron Pot Creek about 30 kilometres west of Kyogle on the NSW North Coast and about 750 kilometres north of Sydney.
The dam was completed in 1971 to provide water for irrigation, stock and domestic requirements in the Richmond Valley.
Toonumbar is an Aboriginal word meaning heelmark.
Why the dam was built
Toonumbar Dam was built to provide a reliable supply of water for irrigation in the Richmond Valley, meet downstream stock and domestic needs, and provide flood mitigation and environmental flows.
The dam’s 98 square kilometre catchment falls largely within the Richmond Range and Toonumbar national parks featuring rugged mountain terrain of steep ridges and deep gullies.
How the dam was built
Toonumbar Dam is a rock-fill embankment with a clay core. The wall is 229 metres long and 44 metres high.
A concrete chute spillway is located just south of the dam wall.
Construction began in 1969 and finished in 1971.
Notifications
Bells Bay Camping Ground
All campers please read the camping information which includes opening and closing times, facilities, fees, terms and site rules.
EWN Notifications
In consultation with our stakeholders and the community we review and update these notifications.
To receive Early Warning Network notifications below please register your details with us.
To see all past archived notifications, please visit all dam notifications.
Dam safety notifications
Alerts will be issued in the following unlikely events:
- When there is a reasonable possibility of dam failure.
- State Emergency Service (SES) require advance public warning to evacuate if such a failure may occur.
Amber alert
- Trigger - Storage level has reached Design Flood Level, approximate outflow of 153,000 megalitres per day.
- Notification - You are advised to move to higher ground and if necessary evacuate.
Red alert
- Trigger - Storage level has reached crest level, approximate outflow of 206,000 megalitres per day.
- Notification - Residents are advised to evacuate to their designated flood assembly points.
Flood notifications
Flood notifications indicate the dam is releasing controlled or uncontrolled flows, likely to cause downstream flooding.
Flood operations
- Trigger - Spillway flows (uncontrolled*) over 20,000 megalitres per day.
- Notification - Flows of XX,000 megalitres per day are being passed.
Flood of record
- Trigger - Spillway flows (uncontrolled*) over 38,000 per day.
- Notification - Flows of over 38,000 megalitres per day are being passed.
* refers to automatic spillway flows at un-gated dams once storage capacity exceeds 100%
High regulated release notifications
High regulated releases are when our operations may impact landholders immediately downstream or we are releasing higher than normal flows.
Normal operations
- Range - 0 to 200 megalitres per day.
- Notification - No notifications in this range.
Increased flows
- Trigger - When flow increases above or below 200 megalitres per day.
- Notification - Releases are planned to increase from XX megalitres per day (ML/day) to YY ML/day at 00:00 on DD/MM/YY.
More information
| Agency | Information | Website | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bureau of Meteorology | Weather forecasts and warnings | BOM | varies by region |
| NSW State Emergency Service | Flood or severe weather warnings/advice | NSW SES | 132 500 |
| NSW Water Information | Storage levels and river heights | Water info | N/A |
| WaterNSW Algae Hotline | Algal alert details and algae levels | WaterNSW | 1800 999 457 |
| Early Warning Network | To view or edit your registration details | EWN | 1300 662 077 |