All is quiet at the waterfront, but Balla Balla Ward councillor Colin Butler contemplates the height of next fishing season with hundreds of anglers trying to get out to fish and others trying to get in after a day out fishing. Cr Butler has warned the City of Casey that the situation will only become busier.CASEY Council may need to look outside the square to find a solution to what is a major problem at Warneet.
The little seaside town’s beauty and sometimes tranquillity has become its worst asset.
Bad longrange planning and rigid rules have left residents choking for breath and sleepless because of boat trailer traffic and dust from potholed and corrugated unsealed roads.
Who are the most important people in this issue, itinerant anglers or the residents?
Then there is the traffic glut at peak fishing times with the launch area packed with cars and boat trailers.
I can remember that more than 50 years ago Warneet needed a sealed road down to the launching area because of outoftown traffic.
Ideal fishing and launching facilities attract the traffic.
Everyone now says the roads should be sealed, but the powers that be say residents should pay a large part of the cost.
Why should residents have to pay to provide sealed roads and facilities for outsiders whom they would prefer had ‘gone fish’n’ somewhere else?
Perhaps it is time to put a stiffer toll on the boat trailers and use the money to seal the road and to provide better facilities.
Balla Balla Ward councillor Colin Butler told the City of Casey that Warneet foreshore could not handle the volume of boating it has and that there was more to come.
This is a fair indication that some kind of membership needs to be applied to the launching area that would level out the number of trailers coming in at all hours.
Surplus boating could go on to Tooradin and, if necessary, to Lang Lang foreshore.
Cr Butler said the road situation had improved with the temporary seal system and dust suppressant on the roads.
“They can come in both ways now, but we still have this area packed and we’ve also had some heated arguments with people having to wait as long as two hours to get their boats from the water.
“They are charging a fee now, and perhaps this money can be used to provide improved facilities, but I see lots of debate on the issue before something is done,” he said.
