Lake Eyre - Now the Fight Begins

More bureaucracy gone mad Stephen. Next you won't be able to fly over it or walk/drive on it. What's the flamin difference. The Bluebird saga I remember well.

Maybe they have realised another opportunity for extracting a dollar out of tourists pockets has previously been overlooked.

Makes me pretty cranky thinking about it, especially being one week out from Anzac Day.

Fred

Totally agree with everything you said Stephen, where has common sense gone these days?

Jon

Not a bitch but very valid comments. If the Arabunna and National Parks formed a partnership, built a yatching clubhouse, hired out surfcats then they could earn a living instead of wasting tax payers money on lawyers. Cheers Heather

Is that a Stuarts Desert Pea on your profile pic? Were you aware that there is a move afoot to put it on the banned plant list right up there with marijuana?

Stupidity seems to flourish in certain Govt bodies.

Kevin J

I haven't researched it fully as yet but I have a question.

Apart from the current ban on sailing on Lake Eyre, is it mandatory to get a sailing permit?

I ask this because I did not know it was recently banned. We don't watch aunty abc. Don't read the SMH (we live in the ACT - why read a Sydney paper). We also we prefer not to have satellite TV. After my Google on the banning we therefore would not have seen the notices/articles about the banning for the court case. And we did not see it.

Just wondering. When you ban something like closing a NP there must be a minimum "spread" of such public notices. And if this wasn't done then where did the sailors go wrong/ Ignorance is not an excuse. I realise that. But there must be a minimum spread.

Are there any signs in place banning it?

Just wondering. We are not sailors either. But will be there next weekend to check it out.

Phil

I respect the rights of the Traditional Owners but when they make one feel like a second class citizen I get my back up, I noticed in another forum where they were talking about making Hotels and Bottle Shops white mans sacred sites.

Cheers

Stephen Hi,
Permits?? Last year when we were planning a trip out there Dave one of the party mentioned the canoes to national parks people & was told under no circumstances was there any boating allowed & no permits were mentioned.
At the time I thought He must have been on drugs.
Also I can assure You pea brained bureaucrat's are not restricted to SA.
Mike.

Good morning Stephen,

It is indeed a sad state of affairs and unfortunately becoming only too common.

Years ago there were nowhere near as many restrictions as to where, or when, you could travel.

We have spent many a night camped in a tent less than 100metres from Ayers Rock/Uluru, with our dog!!, camped also very, very close to the Olgas –with permission/sanction of the resident ranger. I would like to see that happen now.

Things will change as ease of travel makes these areas within reach of more people, but I fail to see why everywhere is becoming so restrictive..

I may be wrong –have been before- but I believe the one thing that governs a big percentage of all the restrictions etc is the almighty DOLLAR.

The lack of care by many travellers these days is also causing limitations to be placed on many of the ‘good spots’, and it is hard to argue otherwise when you see some of the damage caused by un-caring tourists.

That said, I agree 100% with your comments but regrettably I do not see much change in the future. I don’t think we are in any position to effectively change the mindset of the faceless bureaucrats that make these laws.

Must get down to Clare for a more ‘in-depth’ discussion.



Cheers
Michael

G'day Stephen, this is a copy of thread 85202 from March this year...........
Sailing on Lake Eyre - $50,000 fine!!
Submitted: Thursday, Mar 24, 2011 at 16:25
aussiedingo. (River Rina)


Lake Eyre coverage lacks respect for the Arabunna people, says lawyer

MEDIA coverage of a sailing ban on South Australia's Lake Eyre has been "disrespectful" to the lake's native title claimants, a lawyer for the group says.

Controversy over the ban arose after the commodore of the Lake Eyre yachting club Bob Backway called for boaters to risk fines and sail on the normally dry desert lake without a permit.

Mr Backway said the National Parks authority had halted sailing on Lake Eyre, filled by recent floodwaters, until permission was obtained from the lake's native title claimants, the Arabunna people.

The Arabunna people have refused sailing access to Lake Eyre, citing its spiritual significance.
AAP March 24, 2011 3:05PM

Stephen Kenny, a lawyer for the Arabunna people who filed a native title claim on the waterway in 1998, says the controversy over the issue has been 'disrespectful'.

"Some media circles are appearing to take on a tone of disrespecting the culture of the Arabunna people," he told AAP today.

"It is a place of great significance to them and well documented and well known, and I am pleased the national park is recognising that in their actions."

A spokesman for National Parks said the yacht club had applied for a permit to sail on the lake and it was being assessed.

He said issues raised by the traditional owners of the land were part of the process undertaken in granting a permit.

Mr Kenny said National Parks' concerns was not related to the Arabunna's native title claim but the Aboriginal Heritage Act which calls for protection of sites of indigenous significance.

"Lake Eyre is a national park and for the yacht club to hold a regatta there they do need permission from National Parks and Wildlife...(who) know Lake Eyre is a significant site for the Arabunna people," he said.

"There is an Aboriginal Heritage Act in South Australia that allows Aboriginal people to protect their heritage, and it is an offence to do something that is detrimental to Aboriginal heritage."

"That is a separate issue, and that is what National Parks is concerned about, that the (sailing) activities could infringe (indigenous) spiritual beliefs."

Mr Kenny said native title only gave Aboriginal people formal recognition as traditional owners of the land and the right to negotiate with miners.

"Native title does not give Aboriginal people the right to exclude others from their land," he said.

"The tourists can still go there - they can't actually ban anyone from going to Lake Eyre."

Mr Kenny said he was confident the Arabunna's native title claim would be successful.

"I am bit frustrated that it has taken so long and hasn't happened earlier," he said.

"This is a very strong native title claim and I have every expectation that it will be decided by consent."

South Australian Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Grace Portolesi told AAP that those who sailed on the waterway illegally could face penalties of up to $50,000 under the Aboriginal Heritage Act.
AAP March 24, 2011 3:05PM

hoo roo




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First of all for those who were on the lake a question. Was there signs displayed informing visitors that sailing on the lake is an offence? If the answer is yes. Signs were displayed & applicable Then why go on there? If the answer to that question was NO SIGNS then explain how are visitors to know any different.

PC or not,,,

It's all about the Aboriginal Industry sticking it up Whitey.

There are two issues in play here, and need to be separated for any effective discussion to take place.

The right to sail on Lake Eyre has been challenged by the traditional landowners and it would seem they are looking for some sort of debate, discussion, and most likely payment for the privilege of allowing people to do so. Like it or not the law as it stands is on their side, currently. And without doubt given the strong voice of opinion on both sides of this debate will be heard loud and clear by all who are interested.

The second issue is that those sailing on the Lake on the weekend did so in defiance of the law as it currently stands and despite being warned the activity will be unlawful. Whether we agree or disagree with this specific action on Lake Eyre, surely we don’t advocate a society that says if you don’t agree with the law just go ahead and break it anyway.

Those that feel aggrieved at not being able to sail on the Lake have a process through which the decision can be challenged, by going the route they did discussion and negotiation will now become more difficult, and it won’t just affect this area. The rights of all need to be protected like it or not, this sort of action does no one any favours, and won’t achieve the desired result, it will simply polarise views even more – how does that help anyone in the long run?

And I’ve no interest in debating the rights of being allowed to sail on Lake Eyre, personally I’m for it, just go about it in the right way, argue your case, and respect the views of others, usually it works out to the benefit of all this way...

Cheers, The Landy

If only the bureaucrats who have so little to do but look for ways to fill in their days, and the tribal elders who are so concerned about the past could direct some of their time and energy toward improving the current living conditions and 'cultural' wellbeing of the indigenous people and in particular the children instead of being so concerned about the significance of water which came from elsewhere and in a very short time will disappear entirely.

There are certainly places where I can understand the need for protection however I don't believe that this is one particularly as the locals were not concerned until prompted by the lawyers and the National Parks personnel.

Can't those in authority see that actions like this are not in the best interests of anyone and will do absolutely nothing to build bridges between the cultures.

Can anyone inform me whether the ban on boating etc is written into law or is it just another regulation imposed by National Parks .

Kevin J

Hmm

Makes me want to head out and go windsurfing, just for the principal.

its water for goodness sakes.

wonder when people will wake up to how stupid things have become.

oh wait, nobody has common sence any more ;(

Sigh........................

Hmm, time to take up sailing again me thinks........hehe.

T

I would never pay the fine, what a load of rubbish.

While ever there is a box to tick on the bottom of all Government forms that asks if you are 'special', we will never have equality in this country!! Michael

Hi Stephen,

Do you know under what legislation they will fined?

It is the local Aboriginal Heritage Act, National Parks Act or perhaps other Federal Legislation?

Regards
Alan

Read the book written by Elliot Price who owned Muloorina. In his book "The spirit of Lake Eyre" he says the local indigeonous people did not venture near the lake as they said there were bad spirits there. As one who has boated and swam in it in '75 & '76 , I am glad I have done and seen many places before all this crap started.
We all should head up there and put our boats in to protest. Stupid laws need to be treated as such.