Community
31 January, 2025
Concerned resident seeks revitalisation
ONE Camperdown resident is calling for a revitalisation of the northern side of Lake Bullen Merri on Sadlers Road following a decade of deterioration.
Annie Keil-Taggart has expressed concern about the condition of the northern beach, with overgrown grass and driving safety among her biggest concerns.
She said she had been going to the lake for photography for 20 years, viewing the areas as a “getaway”.
“My biggest concern is that neglect can turn into a fire disaster, because we do have them every so often,” Ms Keil-Taggart said.
“People think they’re safe – things are rolling along – and then all of a sudden there’s a total disaster.
“If you stopped and started, you would have seen so many areas with trees down and brush – it’s just chock-a-block.
“We’ve got to have a balance between allowing for natural habitats – we all know that.
“It’s an overload now – I would imagine, if someone from the fire brigade went up and did an assessment they could say, unequivocally, that it’s a very big risk.”
Litter has been sighted in the area, with cigarette packets, cigarette butts, crushed cans and packaging left on the ground – all of which can increase the risk of a fire starting due to the overgrown grass in the area.
Ms Keil-Taggart said she saw a needle left on the ground while walking her dog recently, which has raised additional concerns with her as families take children to the northern beach to fish and occasionally swim in the lake when there is no algae.
She is also concerned about the sharp corners along Sadlers Road, which has a suggested speed of 60km-65km, as well as a lack of signposted speeds along the main track, which she said could pose a safety risk to dog walkers, joggers and wildlife on the track.
“You have to go really slowly there, one because it’s only a track, and two because there’s often wildlife there and people walking dogs,” Ms Keil-Taggart said.
“There’s often been kangaroos and wallabies killed because they’re just going flat out. They need to revise that – they’re just new, those signs, but they’re inadequate.
“It is a recreation area, but it needs to become a sanctuary area for the wildlife and the people and respected.
“It’s a community asset that has been allowed to be downgraded and it’s a risk to the town. You’ve only got to walk along there, and you can see it.”
Ms Keil-Taggart has reached out to Corangamite Shire Council regarding establishing a committee of management for the area, but said she never received a “satisfactory” response.
Western District Newspapers contacted council for comment on the state of Lake Bullen Merri’s northern beach, including the recommended speed in the area and closure of part of the lake’s edge on private property.
Council responded by referring to a council meeting in August 2020, which identified amenities such as “toilet and laundry facilities for users of the caravan park and toilet facilities for visitors to the Botanic Gardens.”
Manager assets planning John Kelly said Sadlers Road had a maximum posted speed limit of 80km.
“People need to drive to the conditions hence there are the advisory speed signs such as 60km/h and 65km/h in place to assist at the bends in the road,” he said.
“I am not aware of concerns raised about wildlife and walkers alongside the road.
“Alterations are not proposed to the speed limit on the road at this stage.
“The existing advisory signage can be reviewed further if there is an issue.”
Ms Keil-Taggart has plans of how she would like the northern beach of Lake Bullen Merri to be revitalised.
One way she plans to do this is through using the available space for a special exhibition, with a focus on the story of Bareetch Chuumeen, an Indigenous woman who swam across the lake with her baby on her back.
“You could encourage artists to come and stay at the caravan park and that would boost things up there and bring that inspiration down to create statues that stay on site,” she said.
“It would require a group that would be able to look for arts funding, liaise with locals, the caravan park and council – it will need permits.
“They’d be in town – you’d have artists, sculptors and their family and friends come into town and eat, drink and create interest.
“If you’ve got some reasonable work up there, it means that people are going to wander through and know that story and be more respectful of that space.
“The more that people know about that story about Bareetch Churneen, the more people will be fascinated by it - that’s an inspirational story for any woman, whatever colour their skin is.”
Ms Keil-Taggart said she wanted to encourage people to use the area, since access to natural spaces is good for people’s wellbeing.
“The wellbeing aspect of that - not just for me, but for everyone – it’s a quintessential thing for someone’s wellbeing to be able to go to a wild space,” she said.
“If people want to talk to me about the possibility of joining a group that supports that space and wants to create something to set up a biennial art exhibition, come and talk to me at Passionfish.”
Read More: Camperdown