Anglers are calling for more policing in the Central Highlands after signs were destroyed, an emergency beacon was stolen and rubbish was littered throughout a camp site at Lake Echo.
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Fly fishing guide and Tasmanian Shooters and Fishers Party representative, Ken Orr, said the community was “dead tired” of picking up other people’s trash.
Having fished the lakes for more than 50 years, Mr Orr said it was becoming all too common for anglers to find rubbish dumped in the bush and near boat ramps.
The latest incident saw volunteers cleaning up ironing boards, rusty car doors and furniture left at sites near Lake Echo, Bronte Lagoon and Brady’s Lake.
The rubbish was only the beginning, with Mr Orr stumbling across interpretation signs at Lake Echo that had been damaged by gunshots, maps removed and an emergency beacon nearby had been ripped from its base.
“It’s a major safety risk, the beacon has been removed and it’s the only way to see where the boat ramp is when it’s dark,” Mr Orr said.
“Our license money as anglers goes towards this infrastructure that is provided by Inland Fisheries who are doing a great job, and then they are being destroyed.”
Mr Orr said it was a small minority of people impacting an entire community.
“Ninety-five per cent of anglers are great, they clean up and they don’t leave anything behind, but you have this 5 per cent that don’t care,” he said.
“It totally ruins it for everyone else.”
The damage was discovered just days before the annual Trout Weekend at Liawenee, which saw thousands of locals and tourists head to the lakes on Saturday and Sunday.
It is also a popular spot for anglers during the brown trout season with 25,000 Tasmanians purchasing trout licenses last year alone.
“There are a lot of cabins up the lakes and a lot of people move into the area for the seasons,” Mr Orr said.
“We don’t want to see these areas closed off, we want the free camping maintained for the anglers, the grey nomads, the hunters.
“But the few people creating issues could see it closed. It’s a real issue and it’s not an issue that will just go away.”
Tasmania Police said it has a “strong working relationship with Parks and Wildlife, Inland Fisheries and other agencies, and the Central Highlands area is regularly patrolled”.
Anyone who witnesses suspicious activity should contact police on 131 444.
Crime Stoppers can be contacted anonymously on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au.