Farmer News
1 August, 2026
Call to open access roads to rivers
VRFish, the peak body representing Victoria’s recreational fishing, is calling on the state government to work with recreational fishers and farmers to open up more public access roads to our rivers.
VRFish chair, Mr. Rob Loats, said Victoria had hundreds of kilometres of crown land river frontage that was inaccessible to recreational fishers because they couldn’t cross private land.
“Unused road reserves often provide important intersections between public roads and public river frontage, providing vital access for recreational fishers,” Mr Loats said.
“As more and more families seek out fishing opportunities, recreational fishers are raising concerns with VRFish that there are less places to fish or that they can’t access waterways due to former access points being fenced off or unknowingly blocking access to fishers.
“We want to work with the government and farmers in a pragmatic way to identify key areas to access our valued waterways. If a particular track doesn’t work, let’s find one that does.”
As per information from the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Change Action (DEECA), a licence over an unused road provides personal permission to enter and use the land for a specific purpose and does not offer exclusive use to the licensee.
“The sky won’t fall down every time someone goes fishing and farmers shouldn’t be pitted against fishers,” Mr Loats said.
“We should be working together to get the right outcome for all Victorians.”
He added that VRFish was fully aware that the valuable farming community do the right thing and allow public access to crown land, inline with their licence conditions, and in-general fishers are respectful and aware they must seek permission to enter private property.
“We’re not asking for vehicle access past farmhouses or sheds, but we want meaningful, common sense access points to go fishing while enjoying our natural environment.”
Recreational fishing is an important tourism contributor to regional economies, with recreational fishers investing hundreds of dollars per trip in buying food, fuel and accommodation as they travel through regional towns.
Earlier this year, VRFish launched its plan to make fishing better ahead of November’s Victorian state election.