MERSEY WHITE WATER REGIONAL RESERVE – BUSHFIRE DAMAGE UPDATE – 22nd March
John Borojevic
The fires in January burnt out almost all the right bank of the Mersey from our get in point below Rowallan Dam and our get-out point above the lake. The left bank is burnt out down to the slalom course below Washing Machine and then from Arm River junction.
Parks & Wildlife (the managers of this reserve) have done a lot of work felling dangerous trees in the area around the slalom course. However the Slalom Course area is still closed to access from the road. The ‘Day Use’ area by the road is included in the closed area.
Access is open to the river at our get in point below Rowallan Dam and our get-out point above the lake.
The proposed Hazard Assessment from get-in to get-out on Sat 19th did not eventuate because Hydro could not provide a paddleable flow.
In order to complete the Hazard Assessment and remove any hazards in the river asap, we are developing a plan with local Parks rangers, based on holding a working bee in the week of Mon 4thApril (the week after next.)
Assistance on the day from all sectors of the Tasmanian paddling community will be appreciated (TamarCC, DCC, TasCC, slalom, rafting, DR, creeking, etc …) Watch this space for more info.
In the meantime, Canoe Tasmania strongly recommends that people DO NOT paddle the Mersey River between Rowallan Dam and Lake Parangana until:
• known trees that are still across the river in dangerous locations have been removed;
• wires and ropes in the river at the slalom course have been removed and
• the remainder of the river from Rowallan Dam to Lake Parangana has been cleared of hazards and is again suitable for normal use.