Visitors still walking on Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre months after foot traffic ban
Visitors to Australia's largest salt lake are continuing to walk on the lake-bed months after new rules came into effect that limited recreational access.
The usually-dry Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is flooding in what some locals expect to be the most substantial fill in decades.
It is also the first fill since a new management plan was adopted, which bans visitors from walking on the lake-bed and reinforces restrictions on driving and boating on the lake.
ABC News visited Halligan Bay Campground on Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre's south-western shore and witnessed several groups of visitors walking on the lake.
The ABC did not see any signage advising visitors of the changed rules.
An old sign that directed visitors to walk within 100 metres of the lake shore had been blacked out with tape by a local.
A spokesperson for the Department For Environment and Water said signage would be installed at the site soon.
"New visitor infrastructure, including interpretive signage, will soon be installed at locations such as the Halligan Bay Point Campground to ensure visitors are aware of new restrictions to accessing the lake bed," the spokesperson said.
"Due to National Parks and Wildlife Service staff resources being required to assist the flood response at Innamincka and the re-opening of Witjira National Park, temporary signage advising visitors of the new restrictions has not been able to be installed to date."
Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre was declared a national park in 1985 — a development that ensured the site was subject to various protections under South Australian law.
According to the SA government, recreational activities "including swimming, driving off designated tracks, boating and landing aircraft" were restricted as a result of the national park declaration.
Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is a sacred site for the Arabana people, who were granted native title over land covering most of the lake in 2012.
The Arabana people co-manage the Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park with the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
"Lake Eyre or Kati Thanda is our home," Arabana Aboriginal Corporation director Colleen Raven Strangways said.
"This is where my ancestors walked for over 65,000 years, this is where my ancestors lived, camped, had families.
According to the current management plan for the national park, the 2012 native title determination gave "Arabana people certainty, and a major influence on what happens on their land".
"Native title rights enable Arabana people to hunt and camp on their lands. They also have the right to negotiate with companies regarding any mining activities on their Country," the plan states.
"It gives legal acknowledgement of what they have always known: this is Arabana Country."
Arabana say their ancestors and spiritual beings live on the lake and it is where they get their law and spiritual learnings from.
They wanted to limit foot and vehicle traffic to protect the lake-bed and surrounding ecosystem.
"We don't want boating on there, we don't want people walking on there because when you walk on that lake, it stays there until the next big flood," Ms Strangways said.
"It stays there, it doesn't go away … the ecosystem is so fragile and so important to the health of that lake and to the health of its people, my people, the Arabana people.
"We want you to come, enjoy it, but show respect."
National Parks and Wildlife district ranger, Travis Gotch, said restricting boating on the lake during floods will also protect wildlife.
"We've got a number of birds obviously breeding on the islands, they're there because they don't want to be disturbed," Mr Gotch said.
"You've got birds that are flying all the way from Siberia to undertake a major breeding event that are listed as endangered globally … they don't want to be being bothered and we're trying to keep that sustained for them and protected as well."
Additionally, the Arabana and National Parks and Wildlife Service say walking, driving and boating on the lake is a safety issue.
The vast size of the lake-bed and lack of mobile coverage means once visitors lose sight of land, there is no way to orient themselves.
"It's a safety issue and we're responsible as Arabana people, we are responsible for you when you're on our country," Ms Strangways said.
Lake Eyre Yacht Club members sail on usually-dry rivers and lakes in the outback during rare moments they are flooded with water.
The club's commodore Bob Backway has been an outspoken critic of limiting walking and boating activities on Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre.
Mr Backway says members adhere to rules to protect the wildlife and environment.
"Lake Eyre is a sacred spot for all Australians, it's a very big bird breeding ground, we don't want it to be environmentally destroyed," he said.
The Arabana Aboriginal Corporation says they want people to visit Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, but to do so in a mindful way.
"We're not stopping people from coming, we invite people to come, we want you to," Ms Strangways said.
"We want people to enjoy it just as much as us, however, we are asking people not to go onto the lake.
Mr Backway would not be drawn on whether the yacht club had plans to sail on the lake once floodwaters had reached an appropriate level.
He did question the ability of National Parks and Wildlife Service to police the restrictions on the lake-bed.
"I can't imagine a ranger walking onto the beach at Halligan Point and ordering 100 people off a beach," Mr Backway said.
Mr Gotch said the service would be monitoring activity on the lake ahead of the fill.
"There are expiations for people on the lake, for boating on the lake, and where people are caught, it will be enforced and there's further penalties as well for further non-compliance," he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
11 hours ago
- ABC News
Are flights to Dubai and Doha cancelled? Airlines assessing risk during Israel-Iran war
Australian travellers have so far been spared flight cancellations or major disruptions, despite global airlines avoiding areas of conflict in the Middle East or suspending services altogether. Flight trackers show airlines are avoiding airspace over Iran, Iraq and Israel, while some have cancelled services to areas on the southern side of the Gulf. Former A380 captain James Nixon said avoiding certain airspace was "business as usual" for airlines. "You just trust the security department of the airline that you're not going to be rerouted over anything like that, and they close those air spaces immediately," he said. "Every day, there are airlines having to be rerouted over airspace." How is safety monitored? Mr Nixon, who has 31 years' experience flying, said companies that monitored flight risks, such as Ops Group, provided information to airlines' security and flight planning departments. "They just build flight paths around the areas that are closing," he said. "People are now being routed over Saudi and up through Egypt, and into Europe that way, and they are not going through Iraq, Iran or Jordan." He said at this stage, those areas on the southern side of the Persian Gulf were "completely safe". "It is hundreds of miles away from any action," he said. University of Southern Queensland Professor of Aviation Kan Tsui said airlines would be monitoring risks through their safety management systems. "They have a standard procedure to assess the risk to any particular flight," he said. "Once they assess a risk to the flight that's ongoing … they will have a plan to reroute or avoid particular airspace." Virgin Australia's newly launched flights to Doha, in partnership with Qatar Airlines, haven't been affected. It only launched its Sydney to Doha and Brisbane to Doha services last week. The airline is monitoring the situation closely. Qantas doesn't itself fly to Doha or Dubai. Those flights are operated by Emirates or Qatar. Which Airlines are cancelling flights? Some airlines have suspended services. Singapore Airlines has cancelled flights. ( ABC News: Brant Cumming ) Singapore Airlines cancelled flights to and from Dubai on Sunday after a "security assessment of the geopolitical situation". It warned further services on the Dubai route may be affected "as the situation remains fluid". British Airways A British Airways plane. ( Flickr: Clement Alloing ) British Airways also suspended flights to Doha and Dubai. It said it was reviewing the situation for future flights. Air France Passengers wait at the Air France check-in counter at the Tom Jobim International airport in Rio de Janeiro June 1, 2009. An Air France plane with 228 people on board was presumed to have crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on Monday after hitting stormy weather during a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris. ( Sergio Moraes: Reuters, file photo ) Air France cancelled flights to and from Dubai and Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh. Emirates Emirates are resuming flights to Adelaide. ( Supplied: Emirates ) Emirates, which operates out of Dubai, has suspended all flights to Iran and Iraq for the next week at least. Qatar Airways Qatar Airways has cancelled flights to Iraq, Iran and Syria. ( Supplied: Facebook Qatar Airways ) Qatar Airways has cancelled flights to Iran, Iraq and Syria It advised other passengers that some flight times may change to minimise disruptions. Etihad Airways In this May 4, 2014 file photo, an Etihad Airways plane prepares to land at the Abu Dhabi airport in the United Arab Emirates ( AP: Kamran Jebreili ) Etihad Airways warned its customers the situation remained "highly dynamic". "Further changes or disruption, including sudden airspace closures or operational impact, may occur at short notice." Israel's Airports Authority said so-called rescue flights to the country would expand on Monday to 24 a day, although each flight would be limited to 50 passengers. Israeli airline El Al said it had received applications to leave the country from about 25,000 people in about a day. Could flight prices increase? Given the volatility of the situation, Professor Tsui said the broader impacts on the aviation industry wouldn't be known for days. One impact of flying longer routes to avoid the region, he said, was it used more fuel. "Whether the airline passes on the extra operational cost to passengers really depends on the airlines," he said. "But I predict that the airlines would pass on the cost to passengers, so maybe in the near future or in future bookings, their ticket price would be increased." He said another factor could be travellers cancelling their plans — perceiving, whether correctly or incorrectly, that travel was more dangerous at the moment. "[In the past we have] seen the impacts of geopolitical risks or war affecting travel demand or tourist demand … [travellers being] more cautious, thinking about not just the ticket price itself but also their safety." ABC/Reuters
News.com.au
14 hours ago
- News.com.au
CoolCabanas founder buys $18m block where viral beach trend began
The founder of the viral, and sometimes controversial, CoolCabanas brand is believed to be the new owner of an $18 million beach block of land, complete with approved house plans. Located on Witta Circle, the property sold on May 7 and settled earlier this month. Publicly-available property records show it was purchased by Mark Andrew Fraser, believed to be the same brains behind the viral CoolCabanas empire. Patents in that same name are linked to the beach shelter. Fraser, who is an architect, came up with the idea while holidaying in Noosa with his family in 2014. And it was that simple idea that has clearly paid off with the beach shelters a regular site on Aussie beaches. Sold by Tom Offermann Real Estate agents Jill Goode and Tom Offermann, the sale was for the vacant land only but that sale comes with a Chris Clout designed masterpiece with development approval. Mr Offermann declined to comment. 'Internally the design over three levels includes a waterfall centrepiece, underground parking and a lift,' the listing says. 'On the entry level water vistas have starring roles in almost every space. 'Liberal use of disappearing glass panes merge the interiors to the natural surrounds and alfresco living where bridges connect seemingly 'floating' terraces to the luminescent pool, spa, pond and spill in a fashion to the wide beach and perfect-for-swimming sparkling shallows.' Other features include 20m water frontage with a white sand beach, and a 12m-long jetty. Fraser told News Corp in 2021 that he was holidaying at Noosa with his wife and kids in 2014 when he observed people fumbling to put together their umbrellas. 'I was at Noosa relaxing and wondered if I could create a better design,' he said. 'I set myself a core brief that it needed to be wind resistant, easy to use, and comfortable enough for families to spend the entire day under. 'I literally sat there sketching out design options in the sand and came up with the core idea. 'The one centre pole for ease of use and corner arms held in tension with sand bags.'
ABC News
16 hours ago
- ABC News
How Minjee Lee found a slice of home via her brother's message after winning her third golf major
The tyranny of distance is something golfers know well. As they stand on that tee and look out towards the flag — if they can see it at all — it is only distance that stands between them and their goal. It's a stupidly simple game, really. In the words of the great and fictional golfer Chubbs Peterson, the charmingly sincere nature of golf is to simply "send the ball home". Minjee Lee knows how to overcome distance, both figuratively and literally. The concept of home, though? That's a little more complicated. In rubber-stamping herself as one of Australia's greatest golfers by claiming her third major at the Women's PGA Championship, one comment stood out as Lee paid tribute to her over-achieving family. "Wherever Min is, he's supporting me out there," Lee said of little brother and rising golfing star Min Woo Lee. Such is the complicated and stacked nature of the men's and women's golfing calendar, these kind of achievements — so epic and history-making that it feels they should be played out surrounded by family — are instead completed not knowing exactly where in the world your only sibling is as you achieve them. For what it's worth, Min Woo was in the final round of the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut, 2,300km away. The same country. But a world away from the champagne showers and unbridled joy of his big sister's big moment. Having just crawled towards a 63rd-placed finish, and with a microphone in his face and a sponsorship banner behind him, Min Woo sent the most sincere and warm message he possibly could from the most corporate and staged of settings. "I'm so proud of you," he said, having been prompted by the broadcasters to send the message. "The last couple of years have been tough and I'm glad to see you back in the winner's circle. "I'm proud of you and … ah … love you." On the final two words, Min Woo's face beamed. No doubt the private calls and texts and group chats had lit up with the more candid and fervent messages of inside jokes and gentle ribbing that can only come through that love language that we all have with our closest families and friends. But in those two words, Min Woo's warmth towards his sister broke through the corporate barriers, a glimpse of home on a golf tour that so often lacks a true understanding of the concept, with an endless schedule and the constant battle to stay high enough in the rankings to make it all worth it. "That's so sweet," Minjee said when shown the video. "We don't get to see each other too much, I feel like I see him more on social media than anything. "I do miss him on the road. Just seeing that makes me a little bit emotional. "It's just really nice to know that you have your family supporting you no matter where you are in the world, even if you're miles apart." This is a tour of close calls, of heartbreak, and of missed opportunities, all of which Minjee has gone through since her previous major victory in 2022, with a capitulation in last year's US Open appearing to dent her growing confidence. And through it all, Min Woo has been there for her, even if via that tyranny of distance. "This will be Minjee's year," Min Woo told the ABC'S Australian Story in March last year. "She'll get there, she'll get there." He turned to his sister during the interview. "Not you think you can," he said. "You will." With putter in hand, home is a tangible thing. Home is in the hole, then off to the next tee to find home again. Off the course, though, it's a concept that is much harder to pinpoint for those on the tour, one that differs from that which you and I understand, of our own bed at night, our place on the couch, a hot meal surrounded by our loved ones. Home is the next hotel at the next event. Home is in the clubhouse weighing up if all of this is worth it. But home is also a message from your brother 2,300km away. Home is those final two words of that message and the beaming smile that comes with it. And home is living in the knowledge that even if you don't "get there", you'll always have a sibling who believes that you can.
