Police have issued a stern safety warning to fishermen, in the light of another boating drama at Lake Burrendong yesterday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In the early hours of Wednesday morning, police from Wellington were called to investigate concerns for two men who failed to return from a night-time fishing trip.
Orana Local Area Command Inspector Alan Cusack said the two men who were in their forties and twenties became “disorientated” on the lake and couldn’t find their way back to shore.
Friends of the two fishermen called police when their return was overdue.
A search for the men would have been called but the men returned about 2am, Inspector Cusack said.
“They had lights on their boat but could not find the ramp and couldn’t find where their car was parked,” he said.
“Police went out there but the men came back by 2am.”
Wednesday morning’s drama unfolded as police continue to search for a 53-year-old Dubbo fisherman who disappeared while fishing on Lake Burrendong on Friday.
The man - who is yet to be formally named by police - headed out on the water to fish by himself last Wednesday in windy conditions and never returned.
When the man’s wife, who anticipated her husband’s return on Friday, did not hear from him she contacted authorities.
In the light of the two incidents, police have issued a stern warning to fishermen at Lake Burrendong to be sensible on the water, especially at night.
“Set time frames for going out on the water and let people know your return times,” Inspector Cusack said.
“The lake is heavily used over the next few months and will be busy for an angler competition this weekend, so be careful.”
Police reminded boaters that the lake is heavily patrolled by police and waterways and that drinking while driving a boat is an offence.
“Consider your alcohol levels if you go boating,” Inspector Cusack said.
Meanwhile, day seven of the scaled-down search for the missing Dubbo man resumes today, with the missing man’s sisters joining the search yesterday.
The man’s family, park staff and police made a decision to re-open the lake yesterday for normal use.
The boat ramp to Lake Burrendong had been closed since the man went missing last Friday.
belinda.galloway@ruralpress.com