PLANS to scuttle recreational activities on Spring Creek Dam have received backing from surrounding residents.
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Orange City Council decided earlier this month to allow fishing and non-motorised boating on Spring Creek Dam, however a rescission motion is pending on Tuesday following confusion during the vote.
If passed, the motion would reverse the decision, which is what residents from the Huntley and Spring Hill areas want to see happen.
A petition has already been circulated ahead of the meeting.
Residents said they wanted Orange's secondary water supply protected and did not want threatened bird life scared off or rubbish dumped more often than it already was.
Jane Tyack-Howarth said it was common for people to dump feral pigs or rabbits at the site after a night of hunting, or even household rubbish and whitegoods.
A car was also recently burnt-out at the gate.
MAP: What you can and can't do on Orange's four dams...
Andrew Hulme said the wildlife was unlike anywhere else in Orange.
"Or anywhere else I've ever lived - they're there because they feel safe," he said.
Jo Sangster said residents had made submissions during public consultation last year, which also included activities at Gosling Creek, and "jumped into gear" once they heard of the June 4 vote.
The Gosling Creek items were considered in December, which included event camping in tents and RV camping in the existing car parks, but the Spring Creek items were not dealt with.
"It caught us all unawares," Ms Sangster said.
"The camping here has been left off, but they're still talking about boating and fishing."
Fellow resident Steph O'Dea said Gosling Creek already permitted those activities and it would be better to develop them there.
"There's a platform where they can cultivate fish habitat and stock it," he said.
Councillor Stephen Nugent met with the residents on Friday and confirmed his intention to support the rescission motion.
"It's a critical part of the water catchment and in a sense we're in a bit of a water crisis at the moment," he said.
Recreation has been ruled out for Suma Park Dam.
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