Fences over creeks -- can you access the creek

I was talking to someone the other day about access. They made to comment that creeks and rivers are not owned and therefore can be accessed provided you stay in the creek bed. Is this right? Also, so many creeks are fenced at the road right down to the bottom. Any thoughts on this? My instincts are that a creek and river may still be private property but I am not sure, so looking for information. Thanks.

I think I may have found an answer to this in an old Nero post.

https://golddetecting.forumotion.net/t290-detecting-nsw#1500

There is also info in this thread.

https://golddetecting.forumotion.net/t3386-detecting-rivers-and-creeks#29903

Creeks running through properties are usually fenced with a flood gate - i.e. the fence allows the water to pass through but still keep the livestock in and tresspassers out.

Check with your lands dept or the DPI. they'll set you on the right path

Robert