Free to fish

By Melissa Meehan
ONE of the biggest cans of worms in the history of Cardinia Council has been closed, with fishing to be allowed at Lakeside.
A resident who was pleased with the decision presented councillor Graeme Moore with a container full of worms as the decision to support fishing in the lake was handed down at Monday night’s council meeting.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing.
Councillor Collin Ross, who has vocally opposed fishing in the lake, first raised a motion to ban fishing in Lakeside and said he would support the voices of residents throughout the shire.
“This has been an extremely passionate subject for Lakeside and residents who live there,” Cr Ross said.
“All in all we had 33 responses to the Fishing Policy, 29 of them against fishing at Lakeside for a myriad of concerns.
“We were voted in to speak for residents and the issues they have.”
The motion to ban fishing at Lakeside was lost, with only Cr Ross and newly elected mayor Ed Chatwin supporting the motion.
Councillor Brett Owen then foreshadowed Cr Ross’s motion, moving for fishing at Lakeside to be allowed.
“This policy is one of the hardest I’ve had to make in my years of council,” Cr Owen said.
“It’s had the most number of submissions, and now we have to make a decision.
“To steal a line from our newly elected mayor last week, as councillors we need to make a decision for the greatest good for the greatest number.”
Cr Owen said residents who had complained about fishermen in the area were focusing on the few that didn’t follow the rules and said the council would need to make an effort to ensure local laws were enforced.
Cr Stuart Halligan said that he supported fishing at Lakeside and that he hoped common sense would prevail and see both fishing people and walkers use the lake in harmony.
“One of the best things you’ll see is a father showing his son or daughter how to fish,” Cr Halligan said.
“It’s just gold.”
A self-proclaimed fisherman himself, Cr Moore said he had never debated an issue so much in his life.
“To fish or not to fish, that is the question,” Cr Moore said.
“You’d think there would bigger fish to fry, but why should we ban fishing at Lakeside?
“What’s next – why should cycling or walking around the lake be treated any differently?
“Everyone needs a bit of give and take and I’m sure all of these activities can happen at Lakeside.”
The motion to allow fishing at Lakeside and endorse Cardinia Council’s Fishing Policy was passed with councillors Owen, Blenkhorn, Moore and Halligan voting in support and councillors Chatwin, Legge and Ross against.