Presentation at Logue Brook Dam Forum, Harvey Public Meeting 22 July 2006.

This presentation was an amalgamation of position statements on the issue on behalf of several organisations:- Recfishwest; the Department of Fisheries; the Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee; RFAC's Recreational Freshwater Fisheries Stakeholder Sub-committee, and the Western Australian Trout and Freshwater Angling Association (as a member of RFW and RFFSS). RFAC is a Statutory Committee that advises the Minister for Fisheries on issues related to recreational fishing.

This presentation was given by Mark Pagano, Principal Policy Officer, Recfishwest. The following is the Recfishwest presentation. Minister for Water Resources John Kobelke announced his decision on 5 November 2007.



Good morning. For those of you that don't know, Recfishwest is the peak body funded and recognised by the Government to represent the interests of over 600 000 recreational fishers in WA. This presentation is on behalf of... (as listed above)

From the outset I would like to state that we are not against more effective use of our water supply, particularly in light of one of the driest winters in over one hundred years.



Waroona, Harvey, Wellington and Logue Brook Dams are focal areas for the recreational marron fishery, especially to family groups. Over 20,000 recreational licences are issued each year enabling fishers to fish for marron and freshwater finfish in these waters.

Marron are one of the world's largest freshwater crayfish, they are endemic to the State's southwest, and the recreational marron fishery holds a unique cultural and social value to generations of Western Australians. People have been marroning in the waters of this district for over 100 years and on Logue Brook Dam for the last 50 years.

Recreational fishing also generates significant social and economic benefits to regional communities in the southwest.



As we have already heard, Western Australia is getting drier and there is increasing competition for the use of our already scarce water resources.

In recent times recreational fishers have lost access to Stirling Dam, the Harvey river upstream of Stirling Dam and Samson dam. Closures to these dams (which were once popular with recreational fishers) has lead to increased pressure on the remaining water bodies where recreational fishing is still permitted. Environmental issues such as salinisation has decreased general water quality which in turn impacts on fish stocks and the overall quality of recreational fishing.

The very future of this popular past time is now under threat and could be lost to future generations of Western Australians unless a compromise can be negotiated.

As we have already heard, Western Australia is getting drier and there is increasing competition for the use of our already scarce water resources.



Regarding the question posed to us today:- Should Government re-examine its current policy that prevents recreation in or around public drinking water supply dams ?

Recreational fishing stakeholders believe the answer to this question is YES !

We have been told that the current policy of exclusion has been successful in protecting our drinking waters sources for over 100 year, however, many things have also changed over the past 100 years. There have been vast improvements in water testing, water treatment, public health and changes in community attitudes, they've even managed to map the human genome!

The Department of Water's state-wide policy No. 13 'Policy and Guidelines of Recreation within Public Drinking Water Source Areas on Crown Land' stipulates that recreational fishing may be allowed in these areas if the activity has been approved historically and the risk to the resource is accepted following community consultation. It is important that this option is considered so as not to disenfranchise freshwater fishers in this state.



We are the only jurisdiction that is subject to an absolute policy of exclusion. Other States have a history recreational activities co-existing in drinking water supply dams.

Over 119,000 hectares of water which is available (or has been until recently) for domestic water supply can be fished in NSW and Queensland alone. Dams for the sole use of Irrigation, recreation and power supply are not included in this figure or the following four tables that list these water bodies.







he risk from recreational fishing is very small. This risk can be further minimised through effective management.

The concept of 'risk management' rather than 'risk avoidance' in public drinking water sources in Western Australia NEEDS to be considered as a strategy.

Risk management could include a mix of the following measures for recreational activities;

• controlled access;
• restricted access to licence holders only (sign in and sign out basis);
• public amenities and waste collection points below the dam;
• only allowing the use of naturally occurring baits or artificial lures;
• prohibiting petrol powered vessels;
• a comprehensive education program;
• ongoing water quality testing,
• and most importantly secondary or tertiary water treatment as a safeguard.

Alternatively more strategic engineering solutions are possible to safeguard drinking water from not only Logue Brook Dam but also other dams in the region areas.

This is a simplistic example of how water could be "Shandied" across a number of dams into one central water body - in this case Stirling Dam, water could by efficiently treated prior to entering the drinking water supply. This type of example could provide an additional safeguard to dams which are already currently used to supply drinking water.

Obviously this sort of proposal would come at an additional cost, however, it does demonstrate that there are engineering solution available to accommodate the needs of all stakeholder groups - for example just look at the Cockburn Sound desalination plant.



Regarding the question:- "Assuming recreation is prevented from continuing, what recreation opportunities should be developed at other dams in the Waroona-Harvey area?"

There would be few viable offsets available for the recreational fishing community to compensate for the loss of access to Logue Brook Dam. Dams are predominantly shore based fisheries and the quality of the fishing experience is largely influenced by the length of shoreline available to recreational fishers - this is particularly true for the marron fishery.

Most dams are already close to their biological carrying capacity for marron and trout and additional stocking is likely to be detrimental to the quality of recreational fishing in these waters. The carrying capacity of these waters might be able to be increased by adding artificial habitat, however, in the past this has proved to be incompatible with other recreational user groups such as water skiers.



In closing - with respect to the second question being asked here today - the recreational fishing community is not against the Logue Brook Dam proposal, however we believe that it is time the policy which stipulates that recreational activities are incompatible within drinking water catchments is reviewed.

The recreational fishing community is eager to work with all stakeholder groups to achieve a satisfactory outcome for all.

It is particularly important for WA to further develop environmentally sound strategies to alleviate the pending water crisis but also to ensure future requirements are adequately provided for, inclusive of all stakeholders.

We believe this can be achieved through reasonable, responsible and defensible management to the mutual social and economic benefit of all user groups.

Thank you.

Mark Pagano, Principal Policy Officer, Recfishwest


See also Recfishwest's submission:- Logue Brook Dam Recreational Fishing Access of January 2006. This link and Minister's media statement added on 5 and 11 November 2007. Contents of the Recfishwest presentation were not changed.

The outcome was announced in the Minister's Media Statement, 5 November 2007. The following extracts cover the fishing and access decisions. See the full text of the media release (link opens in a new window) for the full statement.

Minister's Statement:- "Logue Brook decision helps secure WA's water future"

Logue Brook Dam in Western Australia's South-West will be converted from a recreation facility to a source for drinking water.

Water Resources Minister John Kobelke said the decision was part of a $16million plan to develop the water drinking resource, plan for future sporting development in the South-West and open Lake Kepwari near Collie for recreational use.

Mr Kobelke said Logue Brook Dam, near Harvey, would be used to provide 5.3 billion litres of water for the water grid annually from 2010.

"The Government recognises Logue Brook offers recreational opportunities for the community, but it is also an important water resource for drinking," he said...

Mr Kobelke said that in recognition of the loss of Logue Brook as a recreation facility from May 2008, the Water Corporation would create a $10million trust account that would be used to develop alternative recreation facilities in the South-West.

He said that the Water Corporation would also immediately start negotiations with businesses directly affected by this decision.

Mr Kobelke said that as a first step in the new recreational developments, the State Government would spend $3.29million, in addition to the $10million, to enable Lake Kepwari, near Collie, to be opened as a public recreation area next year.

Works at the lake would include barbecue and picnic areas, jetty pontoon facilities, access roads, car parks and water and power infrastructure.

"While we strive to protect and develop water sources, it has to be balanced with providing adequate public recreational areas," Mr Kobelke said.

"By developing Lake Kepwari as a recreational facility, we are achieving that balance."

South-West Minister Mark McGowan said opening up Lake Kepwari for recreation would bring social and economic benefits for the Collie community.

"This project has the potential to attract thousands of visitors from Perth, Peel, the South-West, Great Southern and Wheatbelt to the area," Mr McGowan said.

"Visitors will seek out services provided by the retail, hospitality and tourism industries, which will lead to positive flow-on effects for local business.

"This is an exciting new era for Collie that will provide benefits to the local community for years to come."

The funding would include $1.02million for planning and reviewing the project, which included $355,000 for the Department of Environment to manage the lake.

The Department of Sport and Recreation would begin a 'South-West recreational master plan' to provide policy direction and clear user guidelines for community access and recreational activities in and around water bodies in the South-West region.

The Department would conduct public consultation to help decide where the $10million trust fund monies would be spent.

Minister for Water Resources' office: 9213 6900 Minister for the South-West's office: 9222 9111

=========



This page last updated on 11 November 2007.