Westlakes Canoe racing lane construction

[nick. 0]

Ive just got a letter from the council about the construction of Canoe/Dragon boat racing lanes stratching from the inlet to the rowing club on military road with start and finishing pontoons at each end, theres gonna be cabling running the whole way along and bouys spaced 10m apart, so it's gonna make it dam hard to be out there in the yak, especially when fishing for mullies. The letter says that its gonna get started this month and be finished by June, and parts of the lake will be closed during construction. I found a site that gives a little more http://www.ministers.sa.gov.au/news.php?id=1654]info.http://www.ministers.sa.gov.au/news.php?id=1654

[nick. 0]

This link actually works. i hope. http://www.ministers.sa.gov.au/news.php?id=1654

[David Ciaravolo 34]

Hmmm, does not look good for the Yak fishers at all!

[brenton 637]

What a crappy idea that is....sucks indeed cheers brenton

[Smiley 8]

I heard this was on the cards about a year ago, not good for yakers but it could be worse.

[benny 1]

Waste of money, and theres already too many there! Nothing worse than fishing the lake on a quiet calm morning and all the peace is interrupted by "ROW, ROW!" and all the fish get spooked to the middle of the lake! These guys also have no consideration for the landbased fisherman too!

[kayakfisher 0]

I was down there this morning and saw the sign. Didn't have too much info but its gonna cost 2.3 million ??? How can it cost that much for 2 pontoons and some cable?

[Tako 0]

2.3 million, its going to cost more once those cables start snapping , bolt cutters anyone?

[Big Ian 0]

under the cover of darkness the divers amongst us are sent to work, :icon_lol: :stir: :stir:

[luke_westlakes 4]

how hard is it to row in a straight line???? Why do they need a permenant racing track, whats wrong with the temporary one they put up when they have race's?I think someone should tell those rowers coaches it is illegal to ride your bike on a footpath if your over twelve years old! ive never seen a twelve year old with a beard before!

[samboman 319]

Its all politics, Why are they thinking of a new Stadium???? West lakes up grade???? Doesn't Adelaide want to try and get the Commonwealth Games here ;D ;D ;DSambo

[Tako 0]

Its all politics, Why are they thinking of a new Stadium???? West lakes up grade???? Doesn't Adelaide want to try and get the Commonwealth Games here ;D ;D ;DSambo

The WORLD CUP! mate ;D

[lewishamlad 9]

Its all politics, Why are they thinking of a new Stadium? West lakes up grade? Doesn't Adelaide want to try and get the Commonwealth Games here Sambo

The WORLD CUP! mate

More like the "Masters Games" in Feb 2011. kayaking, canoeing & Dragon Boat racing is quiet popular at the masters.

[Ranger 48]

Yep it's gonna be a big inconvenience for us, but we alone do not own the waterway. Remember, the lake serves many different purposes for many different members of the community. We are just one.I also thought they explained their reasoning very well for anyone who cared to read:

The AM Ramsay Regatta Course at West Lakes will again be capable of hosting national competitions thanks to a two-year funding boost from the State Government.Just over $2.4 million funding through the Office of Recreation and Sport will see the course brought back to national standard.Recreation and Sport Minister Michael Wright says the Government wants to attract national competitions back to Adelaide.“The AM Ramsay Course has hosted prestigious events such as the World Masters Rowing Championship in 1997 and national championships on four occasions. However the course does not currently meet FISA competition and safety requirements.This upgrade will include a new lane cabling system, starting and finishing pontoons and judges tower. The on-water works will enable West Lakes to host national championships for rowing, canoeing and dragon boat racing.Without the improvements, these events and the associated economic benefits will be lost interstate.The course is close to accommodation, public transport, shops and tourism facilities. It also provides an ideal training environment because the lake is sheltered from strong winds and isn’t affected by tidal movements. This will go to waste without the required accreditation.The upgrade will greatly enhance the training and competition environments for all athletes as well as improving safety for recreational users through the provision of a fully buoyed course,” said Mr Wright.SA Rowing Association General Manager Barbara Fenner says the National Championships can now be hosted at the AM Ramsay Course from 2009.This will be our 125th anniversary year and it will be an appropriate way to celebrate with the rowers from all around Australia.Once again we will rank in the top three rowing courses in Australia and be the place that rowers love to compete at because of the regatta course fairness and great accessibility to all services.Our local rowing schools/clubs and community programs will also receive enormous benefit in being active in a safer environment. Our new Adaptive Rowing programs will be able to grow with the greater accessibility for people with disabilities to the water,” said Mrs Fenner.Thousands of recreational users and elite athletes from rowing, canoeing and dragon boating use the AM Ramsay Course for competition and training each year.West Lakes is currently the headquarters for the National Lightweight Women’s Rowing Program and the South Australian Sports Institute’s Centre of Excellence for Rowing and Canoeing.The SA Rowing Association currently has a funding application to the Federal Government, which if approved, would complete phase two of the course upgrade and bring it to international standard.

Yep, it's gonna be quite an inconvenience to us, but fighting against this or whinging about it just sounds like sour grapes to me! If it's good for the local economy, good for our sportsmen, good for the kids and good for the state, then why NOT try to attract national competition to our state if the area is suitable?This association must have put together a pretty professional proposal to win a $2.4M grant, and they now have the backing of the state government. They have clubrooms and facilities there for the public, and rowing has become quite a high profile sport. They attract interstate competitors to the area, and dollars into the economy. Then people look at the fishermen, who are seen wandering the area at very odd hours, leaving rubbish, and arguing with residents (I know this is not US, but that is the picture people have of us).Can't we fish other areas around the lake, or even just across the road in the Port?Remember, we TOO could lobby the Minister of recreation and sport to get a grant for recreational fishing purposes, or something to benefit US as local fishermen. The problem is, we just don't do this, instead we sit back and whinge about what others are getting and how it will inconvenience us! Maybe we should be following their lead, and looking at avenues which will benefit US as fishermen.Condemn me now! :-\

[coonta kinta 1]

Remember, we TOO could lobby the Minister of recreation and sport to get a grant for recreational fishing purposes, or something to benefit US as local fishermen. The problem is, we just don't do this, instead we sit back and whinge about what others are getting and how it will inconvenience us!

No condemnation from here.Infact I say hear hear!