As most of you will be aware of the media reports in the Newcastle Herald this week with regards to the establishment of sanctuaries in Lake Macquarie being published as a high priority.This information I 'dug up' the previous week from the 2005 Assessment of The Hawkesbury River Bioregion,page 96 (can be viewed at
www.mpa.nsw.gov.au). The article on Monday highlighted this topic and by 2.00pm that day the Minister for D.P.I. was quick to produce this press release;
"The state government will not be declaring an aquatic reserve in either Lake Macquarie or Fullerton Cove.
Mr Macdonald said reports in local media that the Government was planning to declare fishing boating and other activities off-limits were wrong".
"In 2001 the then Minister fro fisheries Eddie Obeid announced that these two sites would not be declared reserves due to the social and economic impacts of such a declaration. That position has not changed." Mr MacDonald said.
"The article today is based on a discussion paper on candidate sites for aquatic reserves in the Hawkesbury bio-region, which was released in May 2001.
"While Lake Macquarie and Fullerton Cove were among the sites discussed in the report, the state government rejected that proposal more than four years ago.
"In fact, the Government has recognised the importance of recreational angling to the economy by declaring Lake Macquarie a recreational fishing haven in 2002.
"Recreational anglers can be rest assured there are no plans a foot to prevent them enjoying access to one of the best fishing spots in the area."
While these comment make you feel warm inside, we need to be aware that the comments are in the assessment.
