Jane Erkens campaigns for McCauley Weir Reserve to reopen

Residents are a step closer to gaining access to a South Burnett water reserve with the council investigating its reopening after a public ban spanning almost two decades.

Mrs Erkens proposed that council grant the public restricted access to the weir during a six month trial period.

A campaign to reopen a once popular South Burnett aquatic on a six-month trial has gained South Burnett Regional Council support.

Nanango councillor Jane Erkens called for the reopening of McCauley Weir Water Reserve on a trial basis in a bid to allow residents access to the area for recreational activities.

Mrs Erkens brought a motion to Wednesday’s general South Burnett Regional Council meeting, which was met with an abundance of support and inspired more ideas for how the trial could work.

The weir is located southeast of Nanango on Cooyar Creek, near the Seven Mile Diggings, but has been closed to the public for 20 years.

The weir is located southeast of Nanango on Cooyar Creek, near the Seven Mile Diggings and was built in 1953.

Mrs Erkens said McCauley Weir offered opportunities for cycling, bushwalking, boating and fishing, and she believed that the reopening could be possible at zero cost to ratepayers.

The weir was opened in 1953 as Nanango’s reticulated water source and was a popular location for aquatic recreation.

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Due to flood-damaged roads, the weir was closed to the public in 2003 and has since been locked by council after several vandal attacks.

In March 2012, the council voted to continue blocking public use when they deemed the access road unsafe.

Mrs Erkens proposed that council grant the public restricted access to the weir during a six-month trial period.

She said while the road was reportedly not in good order, it would be in better condition than many other roads in the region.

Mayor Brett Otto said he is happy to support the motion if the safety audit comes back and says it is safe for people to travel on the road.

As part of the trial she said the gate could remain locked with a council padlock, but residents could be issued with a key.

“Keys would then be available to the public to allow them access to the Weir Reserve, a deposit of $100, to be refunded when key is returned and the key is not to be held for any longer than two days,” Mrs Erkens said.

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“Those people who wish to obtain a key for access are given an agreement to sign acknowledging that they will drive to the conditions of the road, agree to take all rubbish away and leave nothing there, agree they need to make their own arrangements for toileting.

“Their dogs must be kept under control, no fuel motors on the water, keep to the roads, no four-wheel driving off road, no motorbikes off the road.”

Councillor Kathy Duff was in support of the motion but queried what the process would look like for community members to secure their $100 deposit once the key was returned.

A council general manager said a compliance officer could go down to the weir and do an inspection.

“The only recommendation we have for council is to take a road safety audit, we would seek what is appropriate to open the road,” a general manager said.

Councillor Kristy Schuhmacher said the weir looked like an extraordinary facility.

“It’s been wonderful to see the support from the community and local government,” Mrs Schumacher said.

“As a local government we’ve got to get better at trialling new things.”

Mayor Brett Otto said he is happy to support the motion if the safety audit comes back and says it is safe for people to travel on the road.

“I don’t want to see us exposing ourselves if someone has an accident,” Mr Otto said.

The council voted unanimously in support of the motion on the condition of a successful and thorough road safety audit.

Originally published as Jane Erkens campaigns for McCauley Weir Reserve to reopen