Large numbers are expected in Millicent tomorrow night at a public forum about the future management of South East coastal lakes such as Lake George and Lake Bonney.
The Conservation and Hunting Alliance of South Australia is staging the open forum from 7pm at the Millicent War Memorial Civic and Arts Centre.
The lobby group has invited Acting Premier and Environment Minister Dr Susan Close and representatives of the Environment and Water Department.
The CHASA meeting is in response to concerns in the community about the South East Coastal Lakes review and the proposal by the Environment and Water Department to proclaim these lakes under the National Parks Act.
Dr Close has told State Parliament she is aware some parts of land are proposed to go into the National Park system.
Hunters, fishers and windsurfers are among the lake users who have privately approached The SE Voice and expressed concerns access to their favourite locations could be either restricted or denied.
Public comment closes with the Environment and Water Department on July 28.
The access issue was set to be canvassed at Wattle Range Council’s monthly meeting this week.
Permission had been granted for an address from the three-person delegation from the Lake George Management Committee.
Chairperson Lee Morgan and committee members Mark Fabris and Ben Gysbers were set to raise matters pertaining to Lake George within the Coastal Lakes Strategy that is currently out for consultation
The printed material which accompanied the delegation was included in the agenda and included questions and statements such as ‘Will a line across the southern lake of Lake George achieve anything?’, ‘Why does there need to be an exclusion zone and to divide the management of the three lakes system, along with public roads?’ and ‘What is the Environment Department trying to achieve here?’
The Lake George Management Committee submission said it has the vision of having a unified community voice to oversee this natural unique resource asset and to see it is better managed under the Crown Lands Act that meet the best interests of Lake George.
The committee is looking for ongoing community-based involvement and to leverage community engagement to meet the best diverse interests of Lake George.
The Lake George Management Committee wants to coordinate the varied interests and activities including water flows, fishing with multiple recreational net licences, recreational use, 4WD access, along with conservation.
