Logue Brook Dam Awareness Day Sunday 20 January

Logue Brook Dam Awareness Day Sunday 20 January http://www.saveloguebrookdam.com/

Murray Cowper and the Logue Brook Dam Water Ski Club invite you to enjoy a sausage sizzle and a great day out at Logue Brook Dam.

We need you to help us make a stand and preserve Logue Brook Dam as a recreational destination for WA, to be enjoyed by many more generations.

We aim to present news, facts and information to combine the efforts of Logue Brook Dam's many recreational communities to help save Logue Brook Dam.

Help us save Logue Brook Dam! (info from http://www.murraycowper.com/loguebrook.html)

Come and enjoy Logue Brook Dam, a sausage sizzle and a great day out on Sunday 20 January, at the Logue Brook Water Ski Club facility, and help us stop the Government from closing one of WA’s favourite freshwater recreation spots.



Why: Logue Brook Dam and its surrounds are enjoyed by over 30 000 people each year for water skiing, fishing, swimming, bushwalking, canoeing and general recreation

Closing Logue Brook Dam is just the thin edge of the wedge and will result in WA losing many more highly valuable recreational water spots

The means far outweighs the ends :  Logue Brook dam can only supply 5GL of water per year, about 2% of the South West drinking supply needed.  Compare this with 100 GL provided by the proposed Binningup Desal plant. Yet this decision is going to adversely impact thousands of people

Closing our recreation venues does not encourage healthy living – the Bibbulman track attracts over 137 000 people each year – all who will be affected by the closure

Closing the dam in the face of so much public opposition is a slap in the face of democracy – don’t our views count??

Recreation CAN be carried out in catchment areas without affecting quality and quanitities of water if managed correctly

There are very few bodies of fresh water available that can be used for recreation

The Munda Biddi Bike Trail will not be able to be extended

The replacement ‘gift’ of Lake Kepwari is too small, too far away, and the water is acidic!

Moving recreation to Waroona’s dams will not work because they are too small and this will result in dangerous situations for users

What you can do :

Spread the word about the decision to close the dam and why it is a ridiculous decision

Write to the Minister for Water Resources, John Kobelke

Distribute flyers for the 20 January : Download it here

Write to your local member of state parliament

Write or phone your local newspapers and any other media outlets

Download, print and get signatures for the petition.

Become an associate member of the Logue Brook Ski Club

Keep in touch with Murray Cowper, (9583 3830, ) and check his website for updates and info (www.murraycowper.com).

Watch a discussion between Logue Brook Water Ski Club secretary Charlie Odorisio and Murray regarding Logue Brook dam http://www.murraycowper.com/loguebrook.html

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TerryF
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Beavering away in the background......


ody's picture

Posts: 581

Date Joined: 30/12/06

Hi Ya, Can't get there as I

Fri, 2008-01-18 18:18


Hi Ya,

Can't get there as I have a fishing charter organised but am concerned about the loss of the lake to those who want to use it.

A question for you Terry.

I know this has been discussed around the traps before, but what, if anything, is Recfishwest doing about getting access to all empoundments for recreational purposes?  I was mighty impressed to find that most such empoundments on the east coast, VIC, NSW & Qld, are available for skiing fishing, houseboats etc.  Jus seems a pitty that WA, with no real rivers to speak of (compared tothe east coast) won't allow it.

Cheers.



***** Proud RECFISHWEST member ****

Posts: 489

Date Joined: 11/08/05

Logue Brook Dam Awareness Day Sunday 20 January

Fri, 2008-01-18 19:06

Ody

Quote:
what, if anything, is Recfishwest doing about getting access to all empoundments for recreational purposes?

A number of meetings with Ministers over the years, including one later in January with Minister Kobelke. Recfishwest links to relevant topics on the website:-

http://www.recfishwest.org.au/SubAccessLogueBrookDam.htm

http://www.recfishwest.org.au/LogueBrookPresentation2006.html

http://www.recfishwest.org.au/SubTranslocationFMP174.htm

http://www.recfishwest.org.au/PolicyTranslocation.htm

This issue is incredibly frustrating because no one in power is prepared to tackle the real problem which is the complete inflexibility of the Water Corporation guided by "STATEWIDE POLICY NO 13, Policy and Guidelines for Recreation within Public Drinking Water Source Areas on Crown Land 2003" http://portal.water.wa.gov.au/portal/page/portal/Policies/
StatewidePolicies/Content/Statewide%20Policy%20No.%2013%20-%20Policy%20and%20Guidelines%20for%20Recreati (sorry it's a stupid long link - copy and paste)

When you start to read through that policy, you find parts which look encouraging, eg

Quote:
This will be achieved by protecting drinking water sources from contamination that may be caused by inappropriate recreational activities.


Quote:
1.5.1 Recreation

1. The Commission’s allocation planning processes will determine the environmental values of water resources, in consultation with the community. Through these processes, Public Drinking Water Source Areas will be identified to provide for the supply of safe, good quality drinking water at reasonable cost, now and in the future.

2. Recreational activities that ensure the drinking water environmental value of public drinking water sources is protected, maintained and enhanced will be supported by the Commission where possible.

But then you find Section 4.2.1 Reservoir protection zones.

Quote:
Currently, a Prohibited Zone is recognised in the Metropolitan Water Supply Sewerage and Drainage Act by-laws 1981 to protect the immediate vicinity of public water supply dams from potential contamination. The Prohibited Zone is a two-kilometre buffer from the high water level of a reservoir. The Prohibited Zone excludes public use and access.

which is used to ban all recreational access, regardless of the risk. compared to other States which actually do assess the risks, and do allow compatible recreational activities.

That Policy is due for review in 2008 - so now is the time to say what you think to the Government - as listed in the earlier post.

BTW, http://portal.water.wa.gov.au/portal/page/portal/Publications/WaterMgtPlans is headed "Water management plans", but does not have any plans for the major dams, so either there aren't any plans for these, or none they are prepared to let the public see - apart from no access zones.

TerryF
=====
Beavering away in the background......

ody's picture

Posts: 581

Date Joined: 30/12/06

Hi Ya, Thanks for that

Fri, 2008-01-18 22:51


Hi Ya,

Thanks for that Terry.  Had a quick read through.  Will look at the links as I can and try to make head and tail of it.  Hopefully 2008 will give us a chance to comment.

Cheers.
 


***** Proud RECFISHWEST member ****

Dreamweaver's picture

Posts: 4688

Date Joined: 01/12/07

Water Authority

Sat, 2008-01-19 09:19

I worked for the Water Authority for 12 years and, even then, could NEVER understand the perspective of (virtually) completely locking out recreational access to dams etc. Other countries are able to make their water reserviors available for more acquatic recreational use. 

Colin

RECFISHWEST Member 576
VMR 610 - Albany Sea Rescue - Mariner 421

____________________________________________________________________________

Soon to be de "dreamweaver" ed!

Posts: 2

Date Joined: 09/01/08

when

Sun, 2008-01-20 18:51

when are they closing it to recreational users