Anglers and kayakers have regained access to the head of the Hawea River, on Contact Energy land, after the Lake Hawea community resolved concerns regarding motorbike "hooning" on the earth dam.
Contact Energy communications manager Jonathan Hill said yesterday the gates were unlocked.
"As far as I am concerned, it is resolved . . .It is a really good outcome," he said.
On Monday, the Lake Hawea Community Association chairman Errol Carr issued an angry media release after learning Contact Energy had locked the gates to the privately-owned land to protect it against potential erosion from motorcyclists.
Mr Carr had called for information identifying the motorcyclist and had expressed concerns that "hooning" on Contact Energy land was eroding the goodwill between the two organisations.
Mr Carr's concerns sparked a flurry of emails and phonecalls leading to the identification of a teenager, who promptly apologised to Contact Energy.
Mr Carr has thanked the community for their support and the teenager for his contrition.
"Information . . . pointed to one person . . . He probably got a bit of a shock and was embarrassed he had caused a problem. Quite possibly, he was unaware the Contact area is a `no-go'," Mr Carr said.
Mr Carr has apologised for his outburst and said he now understood the teenager was not tearing up the ground as first feared.
"He was just a young fellow enjoying his sport in an area that he had not realised was as sensitive as it is."
Mr Carr and other members of the community are now calling for help in identifying a suitable area where trailbikers can enjoy their sport and not upset property owners and neighbours.
