Sailing on Lake Eyre Update

If SA has so much money in their budget that they can afford to send extra police all the way to the Lake to stop people floating a boat then maybe they should share the economic secrets with the rest of our Govts.

Kevin J

Once when I was closing down a factory in SA someone said to me that what goes around comes around Stephen.

As an aside, I have a South Australian desert parks pass that I renew annually, I have just read it and nowhere does it prohibit sailing on any waterway. In fact it encourages fishing on the Cooper, walking on the Lake and enjoying the National Park. The only things prohibited are DRIVING on the lake (you'd have to be an idiot to do that any way), using local timber/scrub for fires or interfering with any physical native relics. So if I want to go and sail and have a desert park pass I have my permission I would have thought. Under English and hence Australian Common Law anything is permissible unless it is specifically banned by legislation. Anyone care to show me the legislation prohibiting me from sailing on Lake Eyre, my pass doesn't forbid it.

Stephen,

Mate of mine used to sail land yachts and still has two in his shed.
A few of us were talking a couple of months ago before all this stuff raised it's ugly head. We were urging him on to get them out of mothballs and try them out on Lake Eyre when it is dry. ;)
Wonder how they would be classified. LOL.

I'll be at William Creek mid May for a couple of days and will drive out to Halligan Bay. Did a flight over the lake in 2009 but the price has increased significantly since then.

Have fun on the river.

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In 1974 (or thereabouts) when Lake Eyre was full I went with a group of 3 vehicles to see it. We took a small yacht and a 10' tinny and sailed across the Lake. We were surprised how shallow it was but had a great time.

One person who sailed in my tinny was an aborigine who had relatives in the area. Nobody raised any objection to our voyage and he thought it was good fun.

How times have changed.

A piece of land next to where we live has recently been handed over to the local Aboriginal Land Council on the basis of cultural significance. In the 26 years we have lived here I have never seen an aborigine visit and I walk the area with the dogs daily. An aborigine I know who lives in the area has no idea of what the significance is. I have rung the Land Council but no elder has been available.

I am not opposed to Land Rights in principle but am becoming sceptical about the motives of some of the groups claiming land in developed areas. Do not accuse me of racial bias as I have had many aboriginal friends over the years.

Hi folks

I just joined the list as I thought a few facts from an aware visitor might help the discussion. Did the people boating last week break the law?

Firstlly it is a National Parks Act issue not Aboriginal Heritage Act (confirmed by govt officials recently) nor is it Native Title (there is a claim in process but this is separate).

Secondly I visited the National Parks 'Halligan Bay' track and camping area last week with a permit bought at the entrance and at that stage there were no signs about boating. The Parks SA website had no information about restrictions on Lake Eyre until APRIL 12.

Thirdly all the public announcements have been made by Minister for Aboriginal Affairs who does not have responsibility for Parks SA.

Lastly as far as I can see there is no permit system for 'boating' on the Parks SA website or elsewhere? So how does one get such a permit - write to the Minister perhaps?

I saw one couple at the campsite pump up an inflatable toy boat and use it to do a token paddle in the waters of LE and caught it on film - is this an offence?

ciao