WIMMERA tourists and swimmers could have more access to Taylors Lake near Horsham.
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GWMWater applied for a planning permit to construct a track and car park to provide access to the north side of the lake.
The proposal aims to allow more people to use one of the better swimming areas at the lake and to allow yacht access during drier periods when Green Lake is not suitable.
Horsham Rural City Council approved the planning permit at a meeting on Monday.
Six nearby landowners objected to the development, believing it would increase the fire risk and increase rubbish.
Landowners said black cockatoos and sea eagles resided in that area.
GWMWater spokesman Andrew Rose said the proposal was part of a bigger Taylors Lake recreation plan was that development in 2009.
“The plan was developed in consultation by the Taylors Lake Recreational Stakeholder Working Group, which was made up of a range of community, user group and agency stakeholders,” he said.
“Providing access to the northern pines beach area for vehicles was an action in the plan as it was seen as a good swimming beach and sailing location.”
Mr Rose said most actions in the plan had been completed so far and were made possible by significant government grants.
He said new boat ramps have been were built, floating jetties were installed, there were new access tracks and the toilets on the east side were constructed.
“Also boating safety has been improved with the removal of dangerous trees and relocation of power lines from above the boat ramp,” he said.
Mr Rose said the water authority’s focus now was on the toilets and access tracks on the western side of the lake.
GWMWater applied for the planning permit to upgrade the north side of the lake in the future.
“These works will be considered in consultation with stakeholders in the next phase of recreation planning at Taylors Lake,” he said.
Cr Mark Radford said the new area would only be open for day visitors and was not for camping.
“It’s important to recognised that this is somewhere else to have a swim and launch a boat,” he said.
“But if people want to stay and have a campfire, they will need to go elsewhere.
“This is a good place to swim and it’s good to see GWMWater going through with this plan.”
Cr David Grimble said he was confident the issues raised would be reasonably well managed.
He said while it was pleasing to see upgrades at Taylors Lake, Green Lake was council’s number one priority.
Cr John Robinson believed there was a significant issue with fire risk.
“I don’t have a lot of confidence in how the vegetation will be managed from a fire perspective,” he said.
“The precinct must be actively managed.”
The planning permit states removal of vegetation must be minimal, a security gate or barrier must be installed to control access and the site must be regularly patrolled during summer and fire restriction periods.