Protected and Special Areas

Access a detailed map of the Special Areas. This map includes comprehensive information about the restrictions that apply in the Special Areas.

To see the Special Area boundaries in relation to the broader drinking water catchment, view the interactive map below. Special Areas and Controlled Areas can be selected or removed by ticking the boxes to the right of the map. The coloured shading overlays the boundaries of these areas on the drinking water catchment outline.

The Special Areas cover approximately 364,000 hectares of mostly unspoilt native bushland around the water storages and infrastructure that supply Sydney, the Illawarra, Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven regions.

Public access and activities are restricted to protect water quality in these areas.

The majority of the Special Areas are off-limits or restricted to the general public. They are divided into three protection zones with different restrictions to what you can and can't do:

Special Areas - no entry

These areas include the water storages and surrounding land with the exception of Fitzroy Falls Reservoir and part of Lake Yarrunga, which are classed as restricted entry.

Controlled Areas - no entry

These areas include the land at Warragamba protecting the water supply infrastructure and the land along the Warragamba Pipelines and Upper Canal.

Special Areas - restricted entry

These areas include the water storages and surrounding land of Fitzroy Falls Reservoir and part of Lake Yarrunga, and the second protection zone around Lake Burragorang. Vehicles (including motorcycles and bicycles), horses, pets, powered watercraft and firearms are not allowed.

Restrictions do not apply to privately owned land and public roads within the Special Areas.

Catchment Areas Map

Catchment map

Filter results below.

Restricted/Special Areas

Special Areas: no entry
Special Areas: restricted entry
Controlled Areas: no entry

Results

Dams and Reservoirs

WaterNSW manages the following dams and recreational areas. Listed here are the facilities and restrictions at each site. For full details, click on the individual dam or recreational area.

Dam name: Avon Dam Dam location: Nepean
Features include:
- Drinking water
- Barbecues
- Parking
- Toilets
- Viewing areas
- Disabled toilets
- Picnic shelters
- No wood, charcoal or solid fuel barbecues. Penalties of up to $5,500 apply
- Portable gas barbecues are permitted (except during total fire bans)
- No fishing, boating or swimming
- No camping
- No dogs, horses or other pets
- No model aircraft or drones
- No access allowed to restricted and Special Areas
- No smoking within 10 metres of children's playgrounds and four metres of shelters, toilets and public buildings
- Keep to vehicle speed limits and be aware of pedestrians
Status: Closed to Public
Dam name: Bendeela Recreational Area Dam location: Shoalhaven
Features include:
- Camping
- Canoe launching areas
- Drinking water
- Parking
- Portable toilet dump point
- Toilets
- No wood, charcoal or solid fuel barbecues. Penalties of up to $5,500 apply
- Portable gas barbecues are permitted (except during total fire bans)
- No camping on riverbanks (reserved for day use only)
- No dogs, horses or other pets
- No firearms
- No motorised watercraft
- No model aircraft or drones
- No access allowed to restricted and Special Areas
- No smoking within 10 metres of children's playgrounds and four metres of shelters, toilets and public buildings
- Keep to vehicle speed limits and be aware of pedestrians
Status: Open to Public
Dam name: Blowering Dam Dam location:
Features include:
- Picnic areas
- Toilets
- Fishing
- Boat ramps
- Water sports
- Bushwalking
- No model aircraft or drones
Status: Open to Public
Dam name: Brogo Dam Dam location:
Features include:
- Picnic areas
- Toilets
- Fishing
- Boat ramps
- Water sports
- Bushwalking
- No model aircraft or drones
Status: Closed to Public
Dam name: Burrendong Dam Dam location:
Features include:
- Camping
- Children's playground
- Picnic areas
- Toilets
- Fishing
- Kiosk
- Shower facilities
- Boat ramps
- Water sports
- Bushwalking
- Dogs are permitted on a leash
- No model aircraft or drones
Status: Open to Public
Dam name: Burrinjuck Dam Dam location:
Features include:
- Camping
- Children's playground
- Picnic areas
- Toilets
- Fishing
- Kiosk
- Shower facilities
- Boat ramps
- Water sports
- Bushwalking
- No dogs, horses or other pets
- No model aircraft or drones
Status: Open to Public
Dam name: Carcoar Dam Dam location:
Features include:
- Camping
- Picnic areas
- Toilets
- Fishing
- Shower facilities
- Boat ramps
- Water sports
- Bushwalking
- No model aircraft or drones
Status: Open to Public
Dam name: Cataract Dam Dam location: Nepean
Features include:
- Children's playground
- Drinking water
- Barbecues
- Parking
- Toilets
- Viewing areas
- Hot Water
- Disabled toilets
- Picnic shelters
- No wood, charcoal or solid fuel barbecues. Penalties of up to $5,500 apply
- Portable gas barbecues are permitted (except during total fire bans)
- No fishing, boating or swimming
- No camping
- No dogs, horses or other pets
- No model aircraft or drones
- No access allowed to restricted and Special Areas
- No smoking within 10 metres of children's playgrounds and four metres of shelters, toilets and public buildings
- Keep to vehicle speed limits and be aware of pedestrians
Status: Open to Public
Dam name: Chaffey Dam Dam location:
Features include:
- Camping
- Picnic areas
- Toilets
- Fishing
- Shower facilities
- Boat ramps
- Water sports
- Bushwalking
- Dogs are permitted on a leash
- No model aircraft or drones
Status: Open to Public
Dam name: Copeton Dam Dam location:
Features include:
- Camping
- Children's playground
- Parking
- Picnic areas
- Toilets
- Untreated water (not suitable for drinking)
- Viewing areas
- Kiosk
- Shower facilities
- Boat ramps
- Dogs are permitted on a leash
- No firearms
- No model aircraft or drones
- Fishing, swimming and boating is not allowed in the safety exclusion zone around the dam wall
- Keep to vehicle speed limits and be aware of pedestrians
Status: Open to Public
Dam name: Cordeaux Dam Dam location: Nepean
Features include:
- Children's playground
- Drinking water
- Barbecues
- Parking
- Toilets
- Viewing areas
- Hot Water
- Disabled toilets
- Picnic shelters
- No wood, charcoal or solid fuel barbecues. Penalties of up to $5,500 apply
- Portable gas barbecues are permitted (except during total fire bans)
- No fishing, boating or swimming
- No camping
- No dogs, horses or other pets
- No model aircraft or drones
- No access allowed to restricted and Special Areas
- No smoking within 10 metres of children's playgrounds and four metres of shelters, toilets and public buildings
- Keep to vehicle speed limits and be aware of pedestrians
Status: Open to Public
Dam name: Fitzroy Falls Reservoir Dam location: Shoalhaven
Features include:
- Children's playground
- Drinking water
- Barbecues
- Interpretive signs
- Parking
- Toilets
- Hot Water
- Disabled toilets
- Picnic tables
- Picnic shelters
- No wood, charcoal or solid fuel barbecues. Penalties of up to $5,500 apply
- Portable gas barbecues are permitted (except during total fire bans)
- No camping
- No dogs, horses or other pets
- No model aircraft or drones
- No access allowed to restricted and Special Areas
- No watercraft
- No swimming
- No smoking within 10 metres of children's playgrounds and four metres of shelters, toilets and public buildings
- Keep to vehicle speed limits and be aware of pedestrians
Status: Open to Public
Dam name: Glenbawn Dam Dam location:
Features include:
- Camping
- Children's playground
- Picnic areas
- Toilets
- Kiosk
- Shower facilities
- Boat ramps
- No model aircraft or drones
- Keep to vehicle speed limits and be aware of pedestrians
Status: Open to Public
Dam name: Glennies Creek Dam Dam location:
Features include:
- Camping
- Picnic areas
- Toilets
- Fishing
- Shower facilities
- Boat ramps
- Water sports
- Bushwalking
- No model aircraft or drones
Status: Open to Public
Dam name: Hume Dam Dam location:
Features include:
- Camping
- Picnic areas
- Toilets
- Fishing
- Kiosk
- Shower facilities
- Boat ramps
- Water sports
- Bushwalking
- No model aircraft or drones
Status: Open to Public
Dam name: Keepit Dam Dam location:
Features include:
- Camping
- Children's playground
- Picnic areas
- Toilets
- Fishing
- Kiosk
- Shower facilities
- Boat ramps
- Water sports
- Bushwalking
- BMX track
- No model aircraft or drones
Status: Open to Public
Dam name: Lostock Dam Dam location:
Features include:
- Camping
- Children's playground
- Picnic areas
- Toilets
- Fishing
- Kiosk
- Shower facilities
- Boat ramps
- Water sports
- Bushwalking
- No model aircraft or drones
Status: Open to Public
Dam name: Menindee Lakes Dam location:
Features include:
- Camping
- Picnic areas
- Toilets
- Fishing
- Shower facilities
- Boat ramps
- Water sports
- Bushwalking
- No model aircraft or drones
Status: Open to Public
Dam name: Nepean Dam Dam location: Nepean
Features include:
- Children's playground
- Drinking water
- Barbecues
- Parking
- Toilets
- Viewing areas
- Hot Water
- Disabled toilets
- Picnic shelters
- No wood, charcoal or solid fuel barbecues. Penalties of up to $5,500 apply
- Portable gas barbecues are permitted (except during total fire bans)
- No fishing, boating or swimming
- No camping
- No dogs, horses or other pets
- No model aircraft or drones
- No access allowed to restricted and Special Areas
- No smoking within 10 metres of children's playgrounds and four metres of shelters, toilets and public buildings
- Keep to vehicle speed limits and be aware of pedestrians
Status: Open to Public
Dam name: Oberon Dam Dam location:
Features include:
- Barbecues
- Picnic areas
- Toilets
- Fishing
- Boat ramps
- Bushwalking
- No model aircraft or drones
Status: Open to Public
Dam name: Pindari Dam Dam location:
Features include:
- Camping
- Barbecues
- Picnic areas
- Toilets
- Shower facilities
- Boat ramps
- No firearms
- No model aircraft or drones
- No smoking within 10 metres of children's playgrounds and four metres of shelters, toilets and public buildings
- Keep to vehicle speed limits and be aware of pedestrians
Status: Open to Public
Dam name: Rydal Dam Dam location:
Features include:
- No model aircraft or drones
Status: Closed to Public
Dam name: Split Rock Dam Dam location:
Features include:
- Camping
- Barbecues
- Picnic areas
- Toilets
- Fishing
- Shower facilities
- Boat ramps
- Water sports
- Bushwalking
- No model aircraft or drones
Status: Open to Public
Dam name: Tallowa Dam Dam location: Shoalhaven
Features include:
- Canoe launching areas
- Barbecues
- Interpretive signs
- Parking
- Toilets
- Untreated water (not suitable for drinking)
- Viewing areas
- Disabled toilets
- Picnic tables
- No wood, charcoal or solid fuel barbecues. Penalties of up to $5,500 apply
- Portable gas barbecues are permitted (except during total fire bans)
- No dogs, horses or other pets
- No motorised watercraft
- No model aircraft or drones
- No access allowed to restricted and Special Areas
- Fishing, swimming and boating is not allowed in the safety exclusion zone around the dam wall
- No smoking within 10 metres of children's playgrounds and four metres of shelters, toilets and public buildings
- Keep to vehicle speed limits and be aware of pedestrians
Status: Closed to Public
Dam name: Toonumbar Dam Dam location:
Features include:
- Camping
- Barbecues
- Picnic areas
- Toilets
- Fishing
- Boat ramps
- Water sports
- Bushwalking
- No model aircraft or drones
Status: Open to Public
Dam name: Warragamba Dam Dam location: Warragamba
Features include:
- Drinking water
- Interpretive signs
- Parking
- Toilets
- Viewing areas
- Visitor centre
- Disabled toilets
- Picnic shelters
- No wood, charcoal or solid fuel barbecues. Penalties of up to $5,500 apply
- Portable gas barbecues are permitted (except during total fire bans)
- No fishing, boating or swimming
- No camping
- No dogs, horses or other pets
- No model aircraft or drones
- No access allowed to restricted and Special Areas
- No smoking within 10 metres of children's playgrounds and four metres of shelters, toilets and public buildings
- Keep to vehicle speed limits and be aware of pedestrians
- No alcohol
Status: Open to Public
Dam name: Windamere Dam Dam location:
Features include:
- Camping
- Children's playground
- Picnic areas
- Toilets
- Fishing
- Kiosk
- Shower facilities
- Boat ramps
- Water sports
- Bushwalking
- No model aircraft or drones
Status: Open to Public
Dam name: Wingecarribee Reservoir Dam location: Shoalhaven
Features include:
- Drinking water
- Parking
- Toilets
- Disabled toilets
- Picnic tables
- No wood, charcoal or solid fuel barbecues. Penalties of up to $5,500 apply
- Portable gas barbecues are permitted (except during total fire bans)
- No fishing, boating or swimming
- No camping
- No dogs, horses or other pets
- No model aircraft or drones
- No access allowed to restricted and Special Areas
- No smoking within 10 metres of children's playgrounds and four metres of shelters, toilets and public buildings
- Keep to vehicle speed limits and be aware of pedestrians
Status: Open to Public
Dam name: Woronora Dam Dam location: Woronora
Features include:
- Drinking water
- Barbecues
- Parking
- Toilets
- Viewing areas
- Hot Water
- Disabled toilets
- Picnic shelters
- No wood, charcoal or solid fuel barbecues. Penalties of up to $5,500 apply
- Portable gas barbecues are permitted (except during total fire bans)
- No fishing, boating or swimming
- No camping
- No dogs, horses or other pets
- No model aircraft or drones
- No access allowed to restricted and Special Areas
- No smoking within 10 metres of children's playgrounds and four metres of shelters, toilets and public buildings
- Keep to vehicle speed limits and be aware of pedestrians
Status: Open to Public
Dam name: Wyangala Dam Dam location:
Features include:
- Camping
- Children's playground
- Picnic areas
- Toilets
- Fishing
- Kiosk
- Shower facilities
- Boat ramps
- Water sports
- Bushwalking
- No model aircraft or drones
Status: Closed to Public

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Protected and Special Areas