Outraged lake enthusiasts have pitched in to help Mick Henderson, who copped a $750 fine for blocking a drain in Lake Albert to raise its water levels.
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Supporters paid off the fine within a matter of hours, and by the next day they had raised enough money to pay the fine twice over.
Mr Henderson said he would put the excess money into a "Water for Lake Albert Fund", which he would use for signs and other campaign material to continue putting pressure on council and the government.
"We're going to use it for anything we require down the track to get the condition of the lake back to where it should be," Mr Henderson said.
"The support in the community has been fantastic."
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Mr Henderson said he had not been discouraged by the fine at all, saying it made him "more determined" than ever.
He said he felt particularly galvanised by one young supporter from Kurrajong, who rode his pushbike all the way to the boat club to donate $5 of his hard-earned recycling money to the cause.
Another supporter was his "good mate" Nathan Dejong, who pitched in $500 to help cover the fine.
Mr Dejong said he was outraged that "Hendo" had to pay the fine in the first place, saying he was already deeply out of pocket campaigning for a lake fix.
"Hendo's always putting his hand in his pocket to help the boat club and get the lake fixed, so he shouldn't have to pay for it all the time," Mr Dejong said.
"I couldn't imagine how much it's cost him personally. That's why I thought we can't let him pay a fine that they said they weren't going to give him anyway."
Mr Dejong said he would be supporting Mr Henderson if and when he ran for Wagga City Council this year, saying they needed somebody on council who would lobby for the lake.
He said he was hoping Mr Henderson could bring back the Lake Albert of his childhood, which he remembers as being "unreal".
"I've been fishing, swimming, skiing here since I was a little kid. There were thousands of people around the lake on the weekends. It was awesome," Mr Dejong said.
"Now it's just terrible."
The fine was handed down by the Natural Resources Access Regulator, which found Mr Henderson was guilty of "carrying out controlled activity without a control activity approval."
Several people were responsible for blocking off the drain, however Mr Henderson was told investigations had closed now he had "taken the bullet".
Kenji Sato
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
