In yet another example of creeping government restrictions keeping everyday Australians out of their own backyard, recreational access to Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre has been banned under a new management plan. The official justification? A vague mix of environmental concerns and safety risks that sound more like bureaucratic excuses than genuine issues.
Another Ban, Another Excuse
The South Australian Department for Environment and Water has decided that visitors setting foot on the lakebed could cause “significant damage” to the fragile salt crust, leading to scarring that lasts for years. They also cite potential risks to visitors, arguing that the lake’s vast and remote nature makes it a hazardous place where people could get lost or stranded.
If these reasons sound familiar, it’s because they’re the same justifications used time and time again to chip away at public access to Australia’s most iconic landscapes. The fact is, the lakebed has been a destination for adventure-seekers for decades, with visitors walking, sailing, and even driving across it in dry seasons. But now, seemingly out of nowhere, it’s deemed too fragile for human interaction.
Local Yacht Club Calls It ‘A Joke’
Unsurprisingly, those who have long enjoyed the lake, responsibly and without incident, aren’t buying it. The Lake Eyre Yacht Club, which has operated in the area for over two decades, has branded the decision “a joke.”
Club Commodore Bob Backway pointed out the absurdity of the ban, saying, “[It] must be the only national park in the world that you can’t recreate in.”
Sailing on the lake is a rare event, only possible when floodwaters make their way down from Queensland, sometimes once a decade. Despite this, the club adheres to strict environmental guidelines, including avoiding nesting bird areas and minimising impact. And yet, under the new plan, even their minimal footprint is no longer tolerated.
The Tourism Hit
Beyond just alienating those who love the lake, this ban will undoubtedly hurt tourism in the already remote region. Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre has long been a bucket-list destination for Australians wanting to experience the unique phenomenon of a vast salt lake turning into an inland sea.
“Tourists like to walk on the lake and get a feeling of it and examine the salt crust,” Backway said. “I even had people dying of cancer ask me to help them just go for a paddle in the lake—it’s on their bucket list.”
Under this new plan, that simple pleasure is gone.
Convenient Timing?
The management plan comes after public consultation in 2024, which saw over 230 responses. Officials claim that nearly half of respondents were “completely or mostly satisfied” with the outcome, which sounds like the majority weren’t.
This is just the latest in a growing pattern of government policies that limit access to public land under the banner of environmentalism and cultural preservation—without a clear, consistent, or scientific justification. The Arabana traditional owners have welcomed the decision, citing the cultural importance of the lake. But once again, we’re left wondering why the government can’t find a way to balance environmental and cultural concerns with responsible public access.
At what point do we say enough is enough? When every inch of remote Australia is off-limits to those who want to experience it firsthand?
One thing’s for sure, if this trend continues, the only way you’ll get to see Australia’s greatest natural wonders is from a government-approved viewing platform.
28 comments
We need to sack these officials and appoint a person who understands that we are not out to destroy the country but to look after it for our kids and support the locals
A distinctly small minority are having too big a say in what the majority and in this case a generally responsible and caring majority can or can’t do.
When are government officials going to stand up for the people who elected then instead of these minority groups.
We are also 3rd and 4th generation Australians, so where are our rights to be able to visit these locations.
I totally agree the country we love is being closed down and the only way to see it in the future will be from a plane when flying over it
If it is a national treasure, why was only The South Australian Department for Environment and Water responsible for the ban, Shouldn’t the Federal government have a say? Or most Australians?
How long before the greens dogooders say the Simpson is off limits too.
Just another example of why Australia as we once knew it is no longer. Australia is being destroyed by a constant minority and bureaucracy. This country is going to crap
Agree with Rob. It is a National treasure, world renowned for it’s vast size and the phenomenon of being a lake that only has water every decade or so.
I am sick of the dogooder bureaucrats deciding for the rest of the population that we should give all these landmarks back to the “traditional owners”.
They did not own it, they arrived in this country like the rest of us. If they purchased it like I did when I bought my property, show us the receipt, Otherwise, it is part of this vast land that we all share as our country and should be accessible to all of us.
What will happen when the “traditional owners” start wanting the land that all the solar and wind farms are located on.
Goodbye to electricity – we will be living just like these people did 250 yrs ago.
It has to stop.
I totally agree with Blair. the minority group only seem to be interested in claiming cultural meaning to important locations ie Eyres Rock, Horizontal Falls, Lake Munga just to name a few and now Lake Eyre. Why was it not a significant site 10 years ago.
Does the group not see they are not making themselves very popular, when one visited the sites years ago, there was not one person from the minority group to be seen anywhere as they are all in town.
I guess we’re lucky no-one was able to run sheep permanently on Lake Eyre otherwise it would have been locked up and fenced 150 years ago! South Australia is not the only State to have a National Park that has blocked vehicular access. I remember driving along the river track to Lake Tali Karng in Victoria in the late sixties.That 4×4 journey has been prohibited now for decades. Tough titties for all who like me suffer from a walking disability!
I have been travelling in this great land we are blessed to live in for a long time now and always try to do what is right but I am so frustrated by the mounting beauracy that is mounting up in this so called Fee Land.
We need to start class actions and challenge this woke decisions in the high courts
Sometimes it is easier to ban access for cultural reasons than it is to arrange fair and safe access for those who want to experience our special landmarks. We should all have equal rights to access these places. Some in our society are more equal than others!
I have read these posts and agree with most, Lois and Blair have said what needs to be said.
I am one of the fortunate ones who has driven to the lake and attempted to walk on the salt only to find it was just mud covered by a salt layer. As for foot prints damaging the surface then I hope they are going to ban all native wildlife that leaves trenches across the surface when they attempt to cross the lake. It is obvious that those who banned access to this and many other places have never been out there to experience it for themselves. Australia belongs to all Australians and not just a select few who have never purchased or have any interest in it until they see they could make some money from claiming it.
National Parks are for everyone and we should all have free and open access to them.
The voice should have said it all .Everything the ALP do just widens the gap between them and us ,when will they learn .National parks are for everyone to enjoy start that class action .
Agree to keeping vehicles off the lake bed, but to ban walking on it! We visited the lake at Halford Bay in 2019, went out on the lake and watched sunset, moonrise (1 minute late) and the following Sunrise. We barly left a mark on the surface so can’t see how people can damage it. We also flew over (lake was 60% full) the lake, and we could see numerous tracks across the lake, down to the waters edge, very clear from 1000′. Pilot said it was Emus (not sure why, 60km from lakes edge and anything to drink or eat!).
So are they also going to ban animals like Emus from the lake as they clearly did more ‘damage’ to the lake surface than we did.
We even saw two Crocs out on the salt lake surface… would post the photo if I could.
This is a joke right? It’s a salt lake. Can’t see how you could have hunted for food on this open space. Just another lunatic decision to appease the Custodians. I’m all for supporting cultural significance, but this is plain stupid. Next thing is you won’t even be able to look at it. I’m sure the owners of William Creek will be happy with this decision.
why is it seems these shut downs happen without any body knowing like these areas have been here even before captain cook would be good to have six to twelve months talk the damage caused by the boat club i would like to visit that club
Won’t be too long and it will be like the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s
Seems anywhere that is a good tourism or 4×4 spot is being closed to non indigenous peoples
we are slowly generating Australia’s Apartheid.
Access to Nation parks in NSW
Access to Ayers Rock
Access to Lake Eyre access to horizontal falls
Permits required to travel on Tribal lands
Most of this is funded by tax payers
This is one for Pat to get involved in.
Pat, you have the platform to start a petition that would give numbers more than your current audience which may even help you get a larger audience. You need to look at the great work one of our Victorians has been doing to try and stop the great central forest proposal. CARLY MURPHY from Eildon area has been working tirelessly to stop this stupidity and has successfully got the largest number of signatures on the petition to stop it.
If you haven’t already seen the work that she has been doing, go to Facebook. Victorians against the great forest national park. Maybe get in touch with her and see if the backing of your organization can help. and vice versa
I can see a time coming when Australians are going to become weary of all these bans, and a mass disobedience movement will start.
We have an issue in that the ministers and public servants are very unlikely to be reading our comments. Most would not be visiting our wonderful land via 4wd or camping in our national parks. We need to unite and make our voice heard – everyone needs to write to the PM and the relevant ministers. Did you know that all Dept of Environment and Water employees are provided with free access and camping permits to our SA national parks – is that corruption?
We voted against the Voice. But they are ignoring.our vote
What is this country coming too???
We’ve had the freedom of this awesome place to travel for so long, and now slowly but surely many locations on this ‘Wide brown Land’ is being removed bit by bit by do-gooders who have likely never traveled and seen these locations to appreciate…
I’m going for another look and copping the fine next time I’m going by!
Will lake Disappointment be next, Ludacris.
We are supposed to be “All Australians Together” but once again we (98.1%) have lost another piece of our Country. It makes one wonder if the 831 oil and gas wells in the Lake Eyre Basin, with their associated revenue, had anything to do with it.
I’ve read all 25 comments, and I agree with most, they are very sensible and logical, however, it saddens me to see how bendy and over-tolerant to ignorance and Ideology Australians as a people, have become, meaning how so many ridiculous historical claims are made without dispute and the acceptance of practice shrouded in the mythology, Potentially dividing Australians. We as a people go along with welcome-to-country ceremonies in non-appropriate areas. So it is no wonder ignorance and ideology receive vast amounts of money, and as long we as a people sit back and vote for these types of leaders more crazy laws are based on subjective views, not democracy and science. Ignorance has no boundaries subjective laws have no boundaries. Stop the money from going to those that exploit the majority of peace-loving welcoming Indigenous people. So boot out these divisive lawmakers and find sound fair-minded people to rewrite more accommodating win-win laws that don’t divide us as people of this beautiful vast land of Australia. Words for thought, the more the 4×4 travelling public sees these amazing places the more likely these places will be cared for protected and the cultural history appreciated.
I have a good ,clear photo of deep Camel footprints across the dry lake surface, that I am sending to Pat, in the hope he can use it to point out the absolute absurdity of this decision. Unfortunately I can’t load it here. Quite obviously Camels don’t have any money, so now we see the real reason.