LAKE Lonsdale Action Group president Ray Howard has labelled the region’s recreational water situation a complete shamble.
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Mr Howard has called on the State Government to consider the importance of angling in communities.
It comes after Toolondo Reservoir received 5000 megalitres of water from Rocklands Reservoir and Lake Fyans received 4000 megalitres from Lake Bellfield.
Mr Howard said Lake Lonsdale was at four per cent capacity and was in dire need of a top-up.
‘‘We have some concerns about the new government’s pre-election platform to support anglers,’’ he said.
‘‘The Labor party promised the supply of water to Toolondo if it won the election, which it did.
‘‘Unfortunately it was paid for by a mining company, not supplied by the State Government.
‘‘Secondly who is paying for the 4000 megalitres of water that GWMWater is currently putting into Lake Fyans?
‘‘Why does Toolondo have to be paid for but not Lake Fyans?’’
Mr Howard said the previous government also filled Green Lake for no cost.
‘‘The current situation with recreational water is in complete shambles, and we urge the new premier to see the importance of recreational water to communities – not only the social and environmental aspects but also the economic and tourism benefits associated with recreational water,’’ he said.
Mr Howard said the region had the capacity to be the best inland fishery in the state.
‘‘To do so, we need to guarantee a minimum useable supply of recreational water to both Lake Lonsdale and Toolondo, and to also allow restricted operation of power boats on Lake Bellfield,’’ he said.
‘‘We have the infrastructure to accommodate the angling tourist already in place as we are already a tourist destination,’’ he said.
‘‘We have lakes that could be used to stock fish – angling is a billion-dollar industry with more than 750,000 anglers in Victoria alone.
‘‘This is a huge industry that we have the potential to tap into.’’
Mr Howard said the average annual flow of the Wimmera Basin was 316,400 megalitres, which supplied water to Lake Wartook, Lonsdale, Fyans and Bellfield.
‘‘The Rocklands Basin also has a mean annual inflow of 112,500 megalitres,’’ he said.
‘‘We have enough water for all to share.’’
Mr Howard said he had written to Northern Grampians Shire Council, urging councillors to lobby the State Government to address the importance of recreational water.
Read Mr Howard's letter here.
