Hi,
from the Yacht club site, news section.........
http://lakeeyreyc.com
"A spanner has been thrown into the works by National Parks refusal to give permission for us to sail on Lake Eyre until they have obtained the OK from the native title claimants. From all reports it appears National Parks are enjoying the opportunity to prevent us from recreating in their park and are in no hurry to resolve the issue. This process could take years and means that realistically speaking the only way to boat on Lake Eyre this year will be by committing an illegal act and given the anger in our membership this may happen. "
"It appears the South Australian Government are happy to remove our common law right to access and boat on a navigable waterway. We find this amazing given that there is no legal difference between our sailing territory and the River Murray. As Indigenous Australians lived alongside every waterway in the country will your favorite boating place be next? Unfortunately we cannot match the free legal services the complainants have at their disposal so all we can do is make the public aware of the erosion of the right to recreate in a National Park in an environmentally sustainable way.
The Lake Eyre Yacht Club, by encouraging tourism in South Australia's Far North, has contributed greatly to the State's Tourism Industry over the last 5 years. For a State that seems to often be in recession you would think they would be grateful for our effort. We would like to thank the South Australian Government for rewarding our efforts in such a meaningful way.
In addition the Station Manager of Stuart Creek, a BHP owned property, has cut access to Lake Eyre South in response to pressure from the native title claimants. This access track, has been used since the year dot, by locals and those in the know to access Lake Eyre South in an area of firm beach with water only 30m from the National Park boundary. It has never been formalised as a public access track because it is only a few kilometres off the Oodnadatta Track and had never caused problems. This track led to the most environmentally friendly access to Lake Eyre South with a firm beach and deep water within 10m of the National Park boundary at present.
Due to our current situation any plans that we may have for Easter are being kept private. There are many other Lakes and Rivers in the area that are navigable should you wish to boat in the area while you can."
looks like it will fill again...........
"7 March 2011"
"The current inflow into Lake Eyre means that the Lake will reach a level comparable or slightly higher than 2000 - the best flood since 1989. This summers monsoon is not yet over so we are expecting more water, particularly from the larger rivers in Queensland, assuming further cyclones. In the bottom left hand corner of our web site's lake status page is a link to a satellite image of the massive Neales flood. It is expected that the current flood of Belt Bay/Jackboot Bay Basin and Lake Eyre South will have peaked at 2m by Easter."
wonder where this all finish.....................
at least I've been there with the kids (and we have been climbed Ayers rock!! )
cheers
Garry
