Wednesday 20 May 2020 – Article published in the Bay Post / Moruya Examiner

Batemans Bay Bushwalkers have about 200 members that love bushwalking with a number that like to explore the region on water.

The Eurobodalla coast has a number of estuaries, creeks and slow flowing rivers that are ideal for exploring with a canoe or kayak.

Generally the group goes out for a paddle about twice a month, with members providing their own craft and mandatory life vests.

On the first paddle for 2020 in February 2020 saw the group launched at Durras Lake boat ramp early in the morning when the normally busy lake was still calm and winds were almost absent.

Nearly all the margins of the lake have been fire affected and recent rains have seen the water level rise dramatically, however the lake is still closed to the ocean.

Fortunately Durras Lake is in the Marine Park and is not closed.  The group were able to skirt the northern burned shore and paddle quite far up the flooded creek at the back of North Durras.

The paddlers saw Burrawangs sprouting in the fire zone and it was obvious that the forest was beginning its regeneration.

The final paddle back to the ramp included exploring the flooded wetlands near Durras Village, before an increasingly strenuous paddle into a rising headwind took the paddlers back to the ramp.

The walks program is presently suspended due to coronavirus and members look forward to the day when their program can resume.

Report adapted by the Bay Post. Original report by Rodney and Gay.