Established in 1981 as the
proudly serving Melton and Moorabool
28 JULY, 2026
Fishing for access By Jack O’Shea-Ayres
Melton Weir development advisory committee member Tony Wells said the local waterway has lacked public access for years. (Damjan Janevski). 567313_01
owns the only boat ramp access available at the waterway, forcing most anglers to fish along the shoreline. However, Mr Wells said access for bank fishing was becoming even more limited, with the main public access point at the end of Clarkes Road facing potential closure due to concerns around rubbish dumping. MRSBC secretary Andrew Welshe confi rmed the boating club owned the rights to the only available ramp, but supported any opportunities to improve public access to the local waterway. “The club’s launching facilities, boat ramps, launching trolleys and associated infrastructure are provided for authorised members and approved users in accordance with club policies,” Mr Welshe said. “Where opportunities exist to improve public access, we support collaborative discussions with
the relevant authorities, provided that safety, environmental considerations and responsible management of the waterway remain the highest priorities.” An SRW spokesperson said it would work alongside Melton council’s Melton Weir development advisory committee to explore the ways in which recreational amenity could be enhanced. “We’ll continue to collaborate with the council on its Melton Weir parkland strategy which aims to improve access to the water’s edge including creating paths along the reservoir, playgrounds, picnic facilities and viewing platforms,” they said. They also said they are exploring the avenue for a new boat ramp. “We’re also working with Better Boating Victoria to explore the feasibility of creating a second boat launch at the northern end of the reservoir near the railway viaduct,” they said.
However Mr Wells said plans for new fishing platforms on the northern side of the rail bridge were in talks for years, yet no action had been taken as of yet. VRFish said improving access to waterways was an important priority for Victoria’s recreational fishers, with suitable access points helping more people enjoy fishing close to home. Mr Wells said Melton Reservoir had the potential to become a major recreational asset for the community if appropriate public access was provided. “Th is is a great facility right on the doorstep of greater Melbourne and for the most part it can’t be accessed by the public,” he said. “If it had good access, we could introduce even more people to fishing and enable them to enjoy things as they should.” Melton council was contacted for comment.
Helloworld Travel Bacchus Marsh
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Victoria’s peak recreational fishing body is calling for greater access to Melton Reservoir. VRFish has called on Melton council and Southern Rural Water (SRW) to work together to improve public access to the waterway, warning the popular fishing destination is being undermined by a lack of suitable entry points. VRFish executive officer Anthony McGrath highlighted the issue in a post to the organisation’s Facebook page, describing the main entry point located at the Clarkes Road end of the reservoir as “terrible”. Mr McGrath said he had been forced to use four-wheel-drive tracks to reach the reservoir, despite its significance as its main public access point. “We are calling upon Melton council and Southern Rural Water to get together… to take the leadership here and sort out access to this reservoir because this is the only public access point to this very important fishery,” he said. Although the reservoir can be accessed through multiple locations, steep inaccessible escarpments along the waterway’s length make it near impossible for the public to access. Mr McGrath said Melton Reservoir was a stunning natural asset with significant potential to provide recreational fishing opportunities for the rapidly growing local population. “There are no other waterways around that people can fish,” he said. “We have the fastest growing Murray Cod and Yellowbelly in Victoria in this reservoir right now. It’s a no-brainer.” Long-time local angler and Melton Weir development advisory committee member Tony Wells said lack of public access was an ongoing issue for the community. “Access is very poor for the general public and for anyone who’s not connected to the boat club,” Mr Wells said. “The fundamental issue is it’s a public waterway and to get access to it for fishing you have to join the boat club, effectively a private organisation, to access a public waterway.” Those looking to fish by boat need a membership with Melbourne Runabout and Speedboat Club (MRSBC), as the club