Authorities are “passing the buck” over the responsibility of Waroona Dam after reports of anti-social behaviour and overcrowding in recent years.
The Mandurah Mail's investigation comes as coroners are investigating the death of a Mandurah man who died at the dam over the Australia Day long weekend.
A police spokeswoman said bystanders attempted to resuscitate Jake Corbishley after finding him unresponsive on Sunday, January 27, about 6.30pm.
Inquiries over recent weeks have shown an unorthodox system of managing public services and safety at the popular destination.
The dam is located on unallocated Crown land, the land and forest surrounding the water is state owned and the Water Corporation is responsible for the dam wall structure and a small parcel of land around the dam wall.
The Shire of Waroona maintains the roads around the dam but has no jurisdiction over the dam itself.
The land around the dam is rented and managed by Lake Navarino Holiday Park owners Craig and Linda Elliot, who are responsible for managing the dam. This includes dealing with anti-social behaviour, fire prevention and recording visitor numbers.
Unfortunately, when you have 5000 people camping in a confined area for several days at a time, there are going to be some issues.
- Waroona Police Senior Sergeant Simon Bennett
In recent years, the dam has attracted media attention for anti-social behaviour, including an incident on Australia Day in 2018, where two men received serous injuries after being allegedly assaulted with a shovel and oar.
Brenton John Rooney, 24, is due to reappear in the Perth Magistrates Court on March 26 charged with intending to harm and making threats. He has not yet entered pleas.
Holiday Park resident Eleanor Kahlo, who stayed over the Australia Day long weekend, said the dam was "totally overcrowded".
"There were people who did not respect the environment, the lake and the rules around speed limits," she said.
Read More:
"I saw vehicles hooning off the designated tracks. I saw boats speeding in the area where it was supposed to be five knots.
"It's not safe to swim, not even close to the shore."
There is no limit on the number of campers at the dam.
After the long weekend, local business owner Cassi-Jo Davis said there were piles of rubbish left at the Visitor's Centre.
"The amount of rubbish and smashed bottles that gets left up there is unbelievable," she said.
"They cut the tracks up doing burnouts and destroying vegetation."
It’s only a matter of time before there’s an accident.
- Lake Navarino Holiday Park owner Craig Elliot
Mr Elliot said there were still many campers who stayed illegally.
"There are still a lot of people that camp where they are not supposed to and think they shouldn’t have to pay," he said.
"We do rounds, night and morning, checking who has camping stickers - but you can never get everybody."
Mr Elliot said the long weekends and public holidays brought issues, including speeding, car rollovers, overcrowding and anti-social behaviour.
Mr Elliot said they had a “tactical talk” with Waroona Police prior to the Australia Day long weekend.
“They patrolled every day of the week and had a booze bus set up,” he said.
They are out there drinking from six or seven in the morning and think it’s a good idea to jump on jet skis and wreak havoc, basically.
- Lake Navarino Holiday Park owner Craig Elliot
“I cannot praise them enough for what they did.”
Mr Elliot said caravan park rangers did not have jurisdiction over controlling campers' behaviour on the water, which is the responsibility of Water Police.
"They are out there drinking from six or seven in the morning and think it’s a good idea to jump on jet skis and wreak havoc, basically," he said.
"Half of them don’t have skippers tickets or are under age.
"Last weekend, there were kids, eight or nine years old, on jet skis. It’s only a matter of time before there’s an accident.
“Something is going to happen."
In this instance, Mr Elliot said the rangers would hand in complaint forms to Marine Safety.
“They told us the more complaints they get the more patrols they will do," he said.
Mr Elliot said the caravan park rangers do not have the authority to hand out fines to campers who start fires.
“As soon as you tell them there is a fine up to $25,000, they are pretty quick to put them out,” he said.
“If they refuse to put them out, we put them out ourselves.
“We jump on them straight away.”
I dont want to be the kill joy, but there needs to be more control.
- Shire of Waroona president Mike Walmsley
Dwellingup's Lane Pool Reserve, managed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) rangers, have handed out 12 infringements since November 2018 to campers illegally lighting fires.
Waroona Police Senior Sergeant Simon Bennett said police "offered a supportive role" to Lake Navarino Holiday Park rangers.
Senior Sergeant Bennett said police conducted patrols of the dam and the roads, with increased attention during peak periods including public holidays.
“If they (Mr and Mrs Elliot) think things are getting out of control they will give us a call,” he said.
“Unfortunately, when you have 5000 people camping in a confined area for several days at a time, there are going to be some issues.
“When people are sleep deprived their behaviour may deteriorate.
“There can be inconsiderate party goers and people misbehaving causing the odd conflict.”
A Department of Water document from 12 years ago said Waroona Dam suffered "intense overcrowding and conflicts”.
“On holidays and long weekends, there is no effective limit on the numbers of campers,” the document states.
“Many visitors must then find space outside designated camping sites.
“Intense overcrowding and conflicts between user groups commonly occur.
“Toilets are provided, but are inadequate during peak periods.”
Camping was one of the “principal issues” to be addressed in the 1990 to 2000 Waroona Reservoir and Catchment Area management plan.
Waroona Shire president Mike Walmsley said authorities needed a more “collaborative approach” when tackling issues at the dam.
“Some of the agencies are buckpassing,” he said.
“It has hit capacity this year and hopefully it will stay at capacity, but that leads to other issues including anti-social behaviour.
"It's kind of left to Craig, he is flat out.
“I don't want to be the killjoy, but there needs to be more control. In the busy period, especially, there should be more people helping.
"The Shire would love to support the dam, but it’s not really our place.”
Mr Walmsley said the Shire contacted the Water Corporation more than six months ago, asking to restore areas that were destroyed in the 2016 bushfires, and cleared when the dam wall was restored.
“There was a nice picnic area that was removed,” he said.
“There’s a camping spot that is particularly ugly. They need to clean it up – we are suffering from lip service."
Water Corporation South West regional manager John Janssen said some restoration work has been done.
"In September 2018, Water Corporation met with the Shire of Waroona and the manager of the nearby Navarino Caravan Park to discuss opportunities to repair some of the picnic areas damaged during the bushfires," he said.
"Water Corporation has undertaken some work in the area including pruning of overgrown vegetation and the removal of damaged picnic tables.
"We will also undertake some revegetation work and improve the general amenity of the lower picnic area and the look-out car park area.
"This work is best carried out in the cooler months to ensure the revegetation has the opportunity to establish before summer."
A Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attraction Spokeswoman said the agency was aware of Mr Corbishley's “tragic” death at Waroona Dam.
“Parks and Wildlife Service encourages people to understand the risks and take responsibility for their own safety when swimming in natural waterways,” she said.
“Many rivers, lakes and dams within national parks and state forests are unsupervised and as such visitors need to be aware of the inherent risks associated with swimming in freshwater bodies."
Have an opinion? Send a letter to editor.mandurahmail@fairfaxmedia.com.au.