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THE Wimmera’s recreational lakes and rivers contribute $27.5 million to the region’s economy and help improve physical and mental health, a new study has found.
The Wimmera Development Association, along with the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority, GWMWater and councils, has released a study into the value of recreational and environmental water in the region.
The study found that more than 437,000 people visited waterways in the region in 2016-17, which included more than 196,000 overnight visitors.
About 43 per cent of visitors were Wimmera residents, while 31 per cent of people came from country Victoria and 11 per cent came from Melbourne.
The report also found that recreational waterways provided a critical outlet for physical and mental relaxation, and improved the health of residents and visitors to the region.
It found people who participated in water activities were more physically active, had a 25 per cent reduction in anxiety and depression and had a higher self-assessment of satisfaction.
Wimmera Development Association executive director Ralph Kenyon said the study’s findings were surprising.
“For the first time, we now know how much money comes into the region because of these waterways,” he said.
“The economic impact is very significant and we were surprised with how many people visit these areas – nearly half a million people in the past year.”
Mr Kenyon said waterways delivered a number of physical and mental health benefits.
“What we were able to discover was that the use of waterways encouraged people to take part in recreational activities, which reduced the risk of anxiety and stress,” he said.
The study estimates that Wimmera waterways delivered $7.9 million in physical health benefits and $618,421 in mental health benefits in 2016-17.
Mr Kenyon said the study would now be used to support funding applications for any upgrades to Wimmera lakes or rivers.
“We will do another study over the next three years to get some seasonal variations and find out what is happening during the year in more detail,” he said.
Many of the region’s lakes and rivers were almost dry until heavy rain in September last year.