LANDLOCKED: Audrey Timbs with the petition and some of the residents angered by what they say is another mindless council move in blocking their lake access.
IT started with a single vexatious telephone call of complaint to council from a woman resident allegedly claiming to be somebody else and leaving a neighbour's name and telephone number.
It ended with council dumping large blocks of concrete on the edge of the lake to stop people from accessing a public reserve to launch their small dinghies into the protected waters of Sugar Bay.
The hostile reaction from locals who have been using the spot to launch their tiny boats for the last 40 years was immediate.
They have angrily demanded that council either move the blocks or build them a proper concrete ramp.
Resident Arnold Andrews, whose wife was the victim of the alleged impersonation, said council's reasoning cannot be simply that the gentle, sandy slope of the water's edge is not an authorised ramp.
"It would be as stupid as banning pedestrians from crossing the road unless there was a formal pedestrian crossing," he said.
"It seems to us this council is besotted with making rules for the sake of it. It is destroying our freedom and our lifestyle, and it's time we fought back," Mr Andrews said.
"It isn't erosion because specifically placed rocks stop boats bigger than dinghies, and where we launch our little boats is no different to the rest of the water's edge that's been left untouched for years.
"It isn't access across private property because this is a public road specifically to give access to the reserve and the lake.
"It isn't insurance risk as this would apply to anybody and everybody doing anything and everything on a public reserve. So what is it?"
Resident Audrey Timbs is calling for all concerned residents to sign a petition calling for council to remove the blocks or build a new ramp.
An LMCC spokesperson said council rehabilitated the shoreline to improve stability, but left a section to enable the launching of small vessels to continue.
"It appears that somebody has relocated the large boulders in order to enable launching of larger vessels on trailers. Other than the recent installation of concrete blocks, council has not been notified of any other problems at the site.
"Council has repositioned the concrete blocks, with an adequate gap between, to enable launching of small vessels using hand trolleys only. Any launching of vessels attached to vehicles will be restricted, and those vehicles can launch and retrieve vessels at the Sunshine Park boat ramp, which is approximately two minutes' drive from Porowi Street," the spokesperson said.
"As land manager of the foreshore reserve, council retains the option to close the unofficial launching area if necessary."
