Still hooked

By Danielle Galvin
TO fish or not to fish, that is the question in Lakeside Pakenham as residents fire up over the confusion about fishing in the lake.
Christine Lee-Archer, who lives in Lakeside, said that while she didn’t welcome fishing in the lake, she had accepted that the council voted to allow it.
“But the idea was that there was to be no fishing in the lake until the infrastructure was in,” she said.
On Monday, Ms Lee-Archer came across a dead duck and a young boy fishing. She believes the duck choked on the fishing hook and swallowed it.
“It looks as though the duck swallowed this hook and the fishing line has hooked around its wing, it looked like it had a very painful death,” she said.
“I told the boy that fishing isn’t allowed here and that he should be more responsible. He responded that he didn’t hurt the duck and I said that I didn’t think it was his fault.”
On her daily walks with her dog, Ms Lee-Archer often sees people fishing in the lake.
“It’s not just the wildlife I’m concerned about. If a duck can be injured, a passerby could be next.”
In December, Cardinia Shire councillors voted to pass a motion to allow fishing in Lakeside.
The policy would allow for fishing at the west end of the lake, near Cormorant Parade.
But Ms Lee-Archer sees fishermen there almost every day and on some occasions, she has approached them.
“I think people don’t see the sign that there’s no fishing allowed yet,” she said.
“They should follow what the council has set down.”
Mayor Cr Ed Chatwin said council had received significant feedback from the community when the draft policy was released for public comment.
“Council’s decision was that grants be sought to fund infrastructure required to enable fishing at Lakeside Pakenham and Lilliput Lane. No fishing will be permitted at these locations until appropriate infrastructure is in place,” he said.
Sandy Jager, whose 11-year-old son Chris was fishing at the lake on Monday, said she didn’t know that fishing wasn’t allowed in the lake.
“Chris has Asperger’s syndrome, it’s his therapy to go fishing. We take him once a week to go fishing and on Monday he went down there,” she said.
“This lady walked up to him with this dead bird.”
Cr Chatwin said a number of submissions were received about whether fishing should be permitted at the lake.
“Council will also consult further with the Lakeside Community Development Forum and local fishing groups prior to finalising the exact location of the area where fishing at the Lakeside Pakenham lake is permitted,” he said.