Vol. 19 No. 14
FREE PUBLICATION
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Australian Editorial Award 2016
Water for Toolondo T
BY DEAN LAWSON
he Wimmera is on the cusp of rebuilding its reputation as one of the premier freshwater angling and water-sport regions of the country with water now flowing from Rocklands Reservoir to Lake Toolondo.
MUSIC AND COLOUR: Glam rock band Sisters Doll was among attractions at Murtoa’s Big Weekend, performing as the feature act during a battle-of-the-bands regional final. Sisters Doll, which finished in the top five of reality television show Australia’s Got Talent, is among acts paving the way for a build-up of contemporary music events in the region, likely to culminate with a new festival in Halls Gap, see page 9. Picture: NATASHA PIETSCH
IN THIS ISSUE
Run-off as a result of persistent and heavy rain across the catchment is rapidly filling Rocklands, which skipped past a trigger level for water managers to give the go-ahead for a transfer of between 5000 and 10,000 megalitres. The allocation, based on a unanimous decision by entitlement holders, represents a critical part of the region’s recreation-water-recovery jigsaw puzzle. Under supply rules, Rocklands had to rise to 116,000 megalitres before managers could consider a transfer. GWMWater water resources manager Andrew Barton expected measurements today to reveal Rocklands, the largest of the system’s storage dams, to be almost half full and holding up to 126,000 megalitres. “At this stage there is an agreed minimum of 5000 and maximum of 10,000 megalitres for Toolondo, but obviously if more water became available we could revisit the situation. It’s great news,” he said. “Since Rocklands was built the average in-flow is about 80,000 megalitres in a year. We’ve received more than that so far this year, although there’s a bit of room to go.” Readings last week showed that while other lakes across the region were rapidly filling, Toolondo, which relies on a relatively small natural in-flow system, was 11 percent full and holding 5040 megalitres. The Rocklands water is flowing via a supply channel. At its peak, Toolondo, south of Horsham, gained a reputation as one of the premier trout fisheries in Australia. To mark the occasion, Victorian Water Minister Lisa Neville and Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford will join other dignitaries at Toolondo today as fisheries officers release 7000 yearling trout into the lake. The fish are expected to complement the
lake’s population of trout, some of which are weighing in at more than three kilograms. Ms Neville said the water transfer was an example of government, entitlement holders and water authorities working with the community to keep fishing locations open while supporting good water management. “It’s about how we can best balance agricultural, industry, urban, recreational and environmental uses,” she said.
Across the region
Toolondo represents only one of many lakes across the region where major in-flows are promising to breathe new life into water-based recreation. Mr Barton said catchment circumstances had changed dramatically in the past few months. “It’s quite dynamic and changing all the time. The rain has been hit and miss but there has been quite at lot in some instances,” he said. “At Mt William 180 millimetres has fallen in seven days and that will see more water flowing into lakes such as Lonsdale and Bellfield. “Lake Wartook is spilling again and we’re closely monitoring these systems. “We’ve ceased supply into Green Lake for the time being to avoid getting it too full, but Dock Lake is there as a spillway if needed.” Water is flowing into wetlands across the west Wimmera including Lake Wallace at Edenhope and Natimuk Lake is rising again. Wimmera Catchment Management Authority chief executive David Brennan revealed that 3800 megalitres, a similar amount of water Green Lake can hold, had passed through Horsham in the space of a day this week. He said the water was flowing unimpeded into Lake Hindmarsh at Jeparit where estimates were that the natural terminal depression was now a quarter full. “It’s all flowing into Lake Hindmarsh. To put it in perspective, after the floods of 2011 it got to about 75 percent full. What happens now will depend on the rest of the season,” Mr Brennan said. “We’re continuing to watch the rain charts. If it continues to rain then obviously environmental watering will be put on hold.”
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