Rowing ACT Media Release 8 December 2011

The sudden lowering of Lake Burley Griffin on 1 December was a shock to all lake users, when overnight it became harder to access the lake, with mud flats between the old shore line and the water and the increased risk of walking on broken glass and fishing hooks.

With little warning lake users from kayakers to swimmers and sailors have to traverse mudflats that were previously underwater to enjoy their sport following the NCA’s decision to lower the lake to fix the problems with Scrivener Dam. Lake users are discovering lots of hidden rubbish that pose a severe health risk from infection of any cuts.

Some sports are finding that their members can no longer access the lake.
“Two of our clubs have been unable to get their boats onto the water because their landing stages are not floating, and it is not possible to safely launch from these two venues. These clubs are located on Sullivan’s and Jerrabomberra creeks which are both muddy and dangerous for launching” according to President of Rowing ACT, David Bagnall.
“Most of our Burley Griffin-based clubs have boat launching platforms designed to operate at normal Lake levels. Lowering water levels has left these platforms stranded making launching of rowing boats difficult and, in many cases, unduly hazardous” according to Dr Bagnall.

“The challenges that water sports face are extensive for each sport and vary according to their location on the lake. They range from marked inconvenience for some clubs, to challenges to their capacity to continue to survive this crisis. There will be difficulty for some clubs in maintaining membership and financial viability, the likelihood of increased damage to equipment and increased exposure to risks associated with infections from cuts from submerged rubbish when walking into urban waterways to access the lake.”

Dr Bagnall who was very complimentary of the NCA replacing the rowing buoyed course that was swept away in the floods across summer, is frustrated that once again water sports are suffering. Dropping the water level has provided yet another challenge for lake users following many summers with lake closures due to water quality. The NCA is looking to assist some of the effected clubs by relocating a pontoon and minor earth works to improve access

Contact David Bagnall