Craigbourne Dam is a popular fishing and watersport location in Southeast Tasmania. It is one of the few freshwater bodies in Tasmania that is open to trout fishing all year round. There are two points of vehicle access, from the eastern side of the dam via Craigbourne Road, and from the western side of the dam from Colebrook Road.

In recent years, a local landowner has sought to remove vehicle access to the eastern shore of Craigbourne Dam by preventing access via the gazetted Craigbourne Road which includes a 10m wide easement to the shore of the dam. They have done this by locking the gate, and more recently placing large boulders on the roadway, blocking the gate.

We understand that accessing the Dam via Craigbourne Road requires us to be responsible for leaving the gate closed across the road to stop the landowners stock from wandering. We also understand that there are rules that forbid driving on the property owners land, lighting fires and leaving rubbish.

We submit this petition to Southern Midlands Council to require the landholder to maintain access to Craigbourne Dam along Craigbourne Road without restriction or impediment. We require the council to apply whatever sanction or penalty is appropriate to the landholder if they continue to block or prevent lawful vehicle access to Craigbourne Dam via Craigbourne Road.