{{start}}

On 5 March the Snowy Hydro Corporatisation Amendment (Snowy Advisory Committee) Bill 2013 passed the NSW Legislative Assembly. It establishes a new Snowy Advisory Committee but dissolves the previous Snowy Scientific Committee which was first established by the previous Labor government in 2008.

The committee advises on the timing and patterns of the annual release of environmental water recovered under the Snowy water licence.

Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson said members of the new committee will include NSW and Victorian Government specialists, four local community representatives, one representative from an environmental organisation, two Aboriginal representatives and a representative from Snowy Hydro Limited.

It seems the new committee will be comprised of non-scientists. The Bill for the new committee specifies that there will be representatives of Aboriginal groups, environmental and community interest groups, etc., but does not require anyone with expertise in hydrology, water resource management, aquatic science or fisheries management. Local groups who have lobbied for the restoration of the Snowy River for many years have apparently not been approached about representation on the committee.

Both Labor and the current Coalition government effectively abandoned the original Scientific Committee by not reappointing new members, which rendered it unable to supply its annual State of the Catchment Reports as required by the legislation. That committee was comprised of scientific specialists who were empowered to consult, network and seek further independent advise as they felt necessary.

There may well be room for an additional Advisory Committee but there is also a place for a properly appointed and properly funded Scientific Committee. The cost of running that small committee could easily be afforded by the three governments that share in the profits from Snowy Hydro, and the benefits of even partly restoring that once magnificent river would be priceless.

{{end}}

{{start}}

Thompsons Creek Dam near Lithgow in NSW is a water storage for the Mount Piper and Wallerawang power stations and offers some of the best lake-based fishing for trophy sized rainbow and brown trout in NSW. It is managed by DPI as a trophy fishery and access to this private property is granted for anglers only.

DPI, anglers and Energy Australia jointly developed an access agreement. Conditions of entry form part of the agreement negotiated and have been developed in the interest of all parties. Anglers must abide by the conditions of entry to ensure ongoing access is maintained for all.

Fishing rules and conditions of entry

Access to and fishing at Thompsons Creek Dam is regulated under the Fisheries Management Act 1994 and by the Conditions of Entry and Use.

Fishing rules specific to Thompsons Creek Dam contained in the closure notice restrict fishing activity to:

• Artificial fly and lure fishing.
• One attended rod and line per person fishing with no more than three hooks.
• Not more than three treble hooks or three double hooks attached to any lure.
• Shore based fishing only. This does not include active wading (note: fishing from the dam wall is not permitted by virtue of other restrictions).
• fishing is only permitted between one hour before sunrise through to four hours after sunset.

Conditions of entry and use

In addition to the requirements of the Fishing Closure, the Conditions of Entry and Use are:

• walk-in access only (e.g. no vehicles, motorbikes, pushbikes, etc.);
• one point of entry, being from the Willow Vale Road car park;
• no fires;
• no guns or other firearms;
• no camping, swimming (including active wading), boating or digging;
• no removal of firewood, rock, flora, fauna, or anything else from the land except fish;
• no dogs or other animals;
• no interference with the landholders’ property; and
• persons fishing do so at their own risk.

Please note that the landholder may at any time at its discretion refuse access through the land to the fishing site by any angler.

For more information relating to access at this site please contact Angler Access staff [email protected] or Ph 02 60424214 .

Report illegal or suspect fishing activities to the Bathurst Fisheries Office on: 02 63311428 or use the Fishers Watch Phoneline on 1800 043 536.

For emergency access to the fishing site call Energy Australia Security Ph: 02 63528603

View Thompsons Creek Dam - Angler Access info at this link.

FAQs

Q. Can I walk over the dam wall?
A: Anglers can walk over the dam wall and must remain within the fenced boundaries. If a vehicle approaches anglers must give way by moving to the lake side of the road while remaining within the fenced area.

Q: Can I wade in the lake?
A: Wading is not allowed, the conditions of entry stipulate that shore based fishing is only permitted.

Q: Can I ride a pushbike in?
A: No, the conditions of entry stipulate that foot access is only allowed.

Q: Can I enter through the Sunny Corner State Forest?
A: No access is only permissible from a single point of entry being via the Willow Vale Road car park.

Q: What will happen if anglers ignore the conditions of entry?
A: Anglers as a whole stand to lose access due to anglers’ own actions. The landholder reserves the right to limit access to all anglers at any time if anglers ignore the conditions of entry.

Q: What if there is an accident?
A: If required ring 000 then contact Energy Australia security on 02 63528603 immediately. Accessing the lake is difficult and specifically identifying your location can be confusing. Describe the area you are in following the guidelines as indicated on the main sign at the Willow Vale Road car park.

Q: What will happen if I break the rules?
A: Breaching any aspects of the provisions created specifically for the Thompsons Creek Dam under the Fisheries Management Act 1994 or which generally apply related to fishing activity under legislation can result in being cautioned, fined or being prosecuted in court for any offences committed. Breaking conditions of entry can lead to being removed form the area by the land owner and/or result in other action by the land owner related to their legal rights or specific legislated provisions in respect to the area of land/waters.

{{end}}

{{start}}

Read the rest of this entry »

{{end}}

{{start}}

Read the rest of this entry »

{{end}}