Hi Jon and Fiona,
The situation at Lake Bathurst is not good. There is no public access to
any area of the shore. Five or six land-owners control the land around the
three basins that make up the system (the East Basin, the West Basin & the
Morass). Some are difficult to reach, and most are unwilling to have
bird-watchers on their land.
For the past 15 years Michael Lenz has conducted a waterbird survey at the
Lake and has established good relations with some of the landowners. His
study is one of the longest running such surveys in Australia, and it would
be a very bad thing if people trying to access the Lake without permission
caused some of the landowners to deny Michael and the people who help him
access.
The best thing for you to do would be to contact Michael to discuss the
current situation with him. He is always happy to take people with him on
his regular monthly surveys, and if you are local, and willing to help him
on a permanent basis he would be ecstatic. (His number 02 6249 1109)
[I myself help to do a survey on the West Basin, however I haven't been
there this year as it has been completely dry].
Personally I think that the land round the Lake Bathurst should be bought
up and a reserve established (ditto Lake George). LB is one of the most
fascinating places in the Southern Highlands, and the more you find out
about it the more fascinating it becomes.
cheers
John Leonard
John Leonard (Dr)
PO Box 243
Woden, ACT 2606
http://www.spirit.net.au/~jleonard
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