The Monitor Newspaper for 16th February 2011

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Volume 8, Wednesday February 16, 2011

Boaties back on Lake Mary

ABOVE: Kids happy to be back kneeboarding on the Lake. INSET: Spencer Crafter tests the water after the rains.

F

By Millie Thomas

ollowing the most recent rains Lake Mary is once again the water playground for Roxby and Far North residents. Ever since the floods of ’07, which resulted in the filling of Lake Mary, every time there is an inkling of rain, most residents thoughts turn to the lake, in hope that all kinds of water sports can thrive. To the knowledge of various locals, the lake first filled in 1990. Whilst the population of Roxby was about a quarter of what it is now, the popular water sporting hub was used frequently by the community. Lake Mary then filled again in January of 2007. What was supposed to be a once in a lifetime experience, happened twice in two decades, and locals were thrilled. There were countless stories of men finishing nightshift and heading straight back to the

river to pick up their boats and water sports equipment, and then back again to get on the water as soon as possible – such is the Roxby Downs’ enthusiasm for the water. Residents got a good couple of summer out of the lake before the levels started to drop below an acceptable and safe level, rendering Lake Mary closed, once again. Thursday week ago, it started raining, and it didn’t stop until Sunday night. As a result, Lake Mary has started rising, with recent reports stating that at it’s deepest point, it measures at around 2.5 to three metres. And it’s still rising. A number of locals have already expressed they will be heading down south at their earliest convenience to go and pick up their boats, one of them being Jason Nottle. “We had a look at the lake when it was at it’s worst if you like (a few weeks ago) and we saw lumps of sand everywhere – it was probably the shallowest it’s been I suppose being only about two or three feet,” said Jason. “We went out again when it first started raining and then again on Tuesday night and it was going up. At that point we knew we could get back out there. “I’m really, really stoked about it.” Jason said, “I went down to Meningie a few

weeks ago and parked a mate’s boat down there – we actually joked about it –‘we’ll take the boat down there and it’ll rain again’ and that’s what’s happened! “I dare say he’ll be jumping in the car and driving the 7-8 hour trek to get it!” Jason explained that the lake provides endless family entertainment, and that he and his children would be using the lake as much as possible. “My eldest, Tessa, is now getting to the stage on the wakeboard where she’s starting to get some air. “When we were down in Meningie her and I had our first double wakeboard together. That was a bit of a moment! It’ll be great for her to be able to work on her skills now. “The youngest, Claudia, she kneeboards as well. The middle one doesn’t embrace it quite as much but she’s just as happy to sit in the boat and have a little drive.” With more reports of rain on the way, things are looking good for the Lake. “I think there will be a lot of people out there,” said Jason. “We’re definitely going to get this summer out of it and we’ll see what happens thereafter, but I reckon there will be a lot of people who will go out there and have a go.” Dylon Vanzati, 19, and his family have travelled down to their shack in Morgan in the Riverland for years now, enjoying the fun of water sports and the ambience of simply being

near a mass of water. Dylon went out to the lake mid last week and is confident in its ‘revival’. “Sam (Hall, a friend) and I walked around the lake and went for a swim,” said Dylon. “We were about ten metres out from the bank and we were standing up with our hands up underwater – that’s about how high it was. “We’ll go and get the boat I reckon. Dad’s going to head down Monday probably.” Dylon said that now the lake is able to be utilised once again, they will take every opportunity they can to get out there. “Whenever we get spare time we’ll go there,” he said. “It saves travelling all the way to Morgan, which is six hours plus all of our mates are up here. We’ll be having BBQs, parties, everything!” Dylon recalls the last time the lake filled in ’07. “When it first filled up, I thought ‘what is this doing in the middle of the desert?’ “I didn’t think I would see it filled up again for a while. I think BHP should pump more water into it and fill it up to the brim! “It’s nowhere near as full as what it was in ‘07. The creek where the water runs through is not full or anything. “It’s beautiful out there, the water is heaps good, I thought it was going to be cold, but it’s excellent! It’s fresh as, out there. It’s a bit murky, but I suppose we’ve go to wait for the water to settle.” Continued on page 3

Recent rains top-up aquatic playground


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