DELWP drafts regs to allow parks fishing bans: Minister says its been “miscommunicated”

Regulations have been drafted allowing Parks Victoria and other government agencies to ban recreational fishing on lakes and rivers.

Former Fishing Minister Melissa Horne releasing trout into Albert Park Lake, one of 50 parks where government agencies would be able to ban recreational fishing under proposed regulations.

Victorian Fishing Minister Sonya Kilkenny has been forced to back-pedal on a proposal giving government bureaucrats the power to ban recreational fishing on lakes and rivers within more than 50 metropolitan and regional parks.

Stonker rainbow trout being stocked into Albert Park Lake.

VRFish, the recreational fishing peak body in Victoria, raised the alarm this week, after the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning released proposed regulation 409, which states Parks Victoria or any other government land manager “may set aside an area of a regional park where taking or attempting to take fish is prohibited or restricted.

“It is an offence … to take or attempt to take fish in an area of a regional park where taking or attempting to take fish is restricted unless doing so in accordance with the determination - 10 penalty units ($1849).”

The draft regulations provide for bans to recreational fishing on specified metropolitan and regional parklands such as Albert Park, Karkarook Park, Werribee River, Lower Yarra River, Maribyrnong River, Patterson River, plus parks in Bendigo, Point Hicks, Cape Schanck and Nelson, among others.

Minister Kilkenny responded to alarmed anglers’ emails and calls this week by sending them texts stating “DELWP have miscommunicated and will rectify this situation immediately”.

According to the consultation document, banning children and families from fishing in metropolitan park lakes and river sections, will help “ensure the protection of the environment and cultural values to ensure safe and fair enjoyment”.

The regulations were drafted off the back of amendments introduced by Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio in 2016, where she made it clear during her second reading speech that “good land management includes deterring behaviour that threatens the health of these assets or presents a risk to public safety”.

VRFish Chairman Rob Loats said families fishing in metropolitan and regional lakes did not increase the risk to public safety nor environment.

“Recreational fishing in the local lake is a safe and beneficial activity that creates treasured family memories,” Mr Loats said.

“Since 2015, recreational fishers have invested more than $2 million per year of recreational fishing licence fees into recreational fishing initiatives, including to boost family fishing in park lakes.

“This proposal is clearly an attack on recreational fishing and again shows how out of touch Minister for the Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio is with local community values.”

VRFish is encouraging recreational fishers to email Premier Daniel Andrews or Ms Kilkenny, to inform them that children and families fishing in metropolitan park lakes is a healthy and beneficial activity that should be encouraged not banned.

PARKS LIST

Albert Park Reserve

Albert Reserve

Altona Meadows Natural Features Reserve

Bendigo Regional Park

Braeside Park

Cape Nelson Lighthouse Reserve

Cape Schanck Lighthouse Reserve

Cardinia Creek Parklands

Clarke Road Streamside Reserve

Cliffy Island Lighthouse Reserve

Dandenong Police Paddock Reserve

Dandenong Ranges Botanic Gardens (formerly the National Rhododendron Garden)

Dandenong Valley Parklands

Gabo Island Lighthouse Reserve

George Tindale Memorial Gardens

Hepburn Regional Park

Herring Island

Kerang Regional Park

Kew Land – Molesworth

Kurth Kiln Regional Park

Lower Maribyrnong Parklands

Lower Maribyrnong Parklands

Lower Yarra River land

Macedon Regional Park

Maribyrnong Valley Parklands

Maribyrnong Valley Parklands

Merri Creek Park

Mount Dandenong Observatory

Olinda G168 Bushland Reserve

Olinda Golf Course

Patterson River Parkland

Peach Tree Creek Reserve

Pirianda Gardens - Gardens of the Dandenongs

Plenty Gorge Parklands

Point Cook Coastal Park

Point Gellibrand Heritage Park

Point Hicks Lighthouse Reserve

Sandbelt Parklands (Karkarook Park)

Shepparton Regional Park

Wattle Park

Werribee Park

Westgate Park

Woowookarung Regional Park

Yarra Bend Park

Lower Yarra River land

Yarra Valley Parklands