A “hands Off Lake George” policy was formally adopted by a majority vote of Wattle Range Council on Tuesday night.

After a lengthy debate, council voted 6/3 to unequivocally resist any moves to cede any part of Lake George to the National Parks system.

The suggestion to change the existing Lake George Crown Lands dedication is part of the Department of Environment and Water’s Coastal Lakes Review.

The Lake George middle basin is proposed to be proclaimed as a conservation park from its midpoint south, including the southern basin.

However, Councillor Sharon Cox successfully moved a motion for her council to have a contrary stance.

It now means Wattle Range Council will support its local communities and ratepayers along with the Lake George Management Committee and Beachport District

Development Association with the position of the local community control of Lake George.

Cr Cox explained that a public meeting attended by 400 at Millicent in July had expressed unanimous support for the current Crown Lands dedication to remain. It allows such recreational pursuits as shooting.

Her fellow Kintore Ward councillor Richard Cassidy seconded her motion.

Control of Lake George had last been a “hot potato” around 30 years ago and moves to incorporate it into the National Parks system were also successfully resisted.

The 1990s campaign to maintain local control was spearheaded by the then Beachport District Council under the chairmanship of Councillor Don Ferguson (later inaugural Wattle Range Mayor and now deceased).