Now with Beer Garden for our smoking patrons.
Yachties banned from racing on Lake Eyre
Brian Littlely From: The Advertiser March 03, 2011 12:00AM
LAKE Eyre Yacht Club has been banned from sailing, as water levels rise to their highest in more than 20 years.
National Parks has refused the club's members permission to sail on Lake Eyre until it has obtained permission from the native title claimants.
In July last year more than 150 sailors made international headlines when they took part in a regatta on Lake Killamperpunna in the Cooper Creek system.
Lake Eyre Yacht Club Commodore Bob Backway yesterday said he was disappointed the club was now being prevented from promoting tourism throughout the Far North and Lake Eyre with the club's unique events.
"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," Mr Backway said. "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.
"Given the anger in our membership, this may happen."
Mr Backway said Etadunna Station had granted the club permission to sail on Lake Killamperpunna but the Aboriginal Heritage Department is threatening to take action against us sailing on any waterway in the Lake Eyre Basin.
"It appears the South Australian Government is happy to remove our common law right to access and boat on a navigable waterway," Mr Backway said.
"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?"
Mr Backway said access to Lake Eyre South through Stuart Creek, a BHP-owned property, had also been cut 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," he said.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources yesterday advised that boat access was not allowed for Lake Eyre North or Lake Eyre South.
I hope these guys do go ahead and sail on Lake Eyre despite the ban, to show some solidarity against a ridiculous ruling. Either that, or we should all just move out of Australia, because wherever we are, we're on land that some indigenous folk did something on once upon a time. For heaven's sake!
