The Last Big Dig - a digital story by Bob Parsons

SYNOPSIS: A short account of various times that the community has worked to keep Lake Illawarra entrance open. And how the community can come together and become a powerful voice to advocate for change.
SCRIPT: (An early version of the script is below)
People have always wanted to see the lake open, but for different reasons.

In the past they wanted it open for Christmas - the locals were scared no tourists would come if it was closed. It was good for all the honeymooners.
People wanted it open to flush the lake, so they could enjoy being in it. But not everyone wanted the same, the fishermen wanted it closed, turning it into a big fish farm.

People would dig the entrance open during the day and the fishermens wives would come down and fill it in at night.

Sometimes people wanted to open the lake to let the water out.
Sometimes it was to let water in.

This is the Last Big Dig, the community turned out in force to save the sea grass beds by manually opening the entrance one more time. Those grass beds were the powerhouse that kept the lake alive and we had to save them.
People were frustrated with the Lake Authorities lack of action and we determined to do something ourselves.

Whole families came to dig, with Grandpop in his 80s and Grandchildren as young as 3. I often wonder if this little bloke will remember his part in saving our lake his part in our great peaceful protest.
This is the last big dig because we now have the north wall which will keep the lake open. When the community becomes one the politicians listen, they have to. It reminds me of the biblical story one stick is easily broken as a bunch we become a tree.

For a comment about this digital story from the Lake Illawarra Authority, please follow this link
http://www.lakeillawarramap.info/Site/LIA_Comment.html

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Lake Illawarra
• digital story
• lake entrance
• big dig