Vol. 19 No. 12
FREE PUBLICATION
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
BOUNTY: Glenn Dallinger and his terrier ‘Mr Stevens’ soak up changed conditions near Lake Lonsdale boat ramp. Picture: LAUREN HOWARD
Water brings change T
BY DEAN LAWSON
he Wimmera is building towards a hectic summer as the region looks beyond the anxiety of floods to renewed economic activity driven by extensive rain and water in the catchment.
While heavy rain and rising water have caused property, crop, livestock and access concerns in some areas, the conditions have also injected fresh life into others. Water continues to fill previously low or dry lakes, promising a potential reinvigoration of water-sport and environment-based tourism in the region, while heavy crops continue to promise plenty for an approaching harvest. Major flood warnings remain in place for the Wimmera River, keeping
emergency services and landowners busy, as water pours through open Horsham, Dimboola and Jeparit weirs into Lake Hindmarsh on the edge of the southern Mallee. A monument to extensive flows in the upper catchment is the increasing water level of Lake Lonsdale near Stawell, a lake popular with watersport enthusiasts. GWMWater water manager Andrew Barton said inflows, despite ‘slowing a fair bit’ during a break in rain, were continuing into lakes across the supply system. “The big winners will be Lake Lonsdale and Rocklands Reservoir,” he said. “The expectation is that Lonsdale, one of those catchment lakes that can go from nothing to something quite
IN THIS ISSUE
quickly, would be holding 40,000 megalitres this week. “It is now likely to have water throughout the summer.” Mr Barton said he also suspected Rocklands would be holding up to 110,000 megalitres this week, approaching a 116,000-megalitre trigger for authorities to consider a release program for Toolondo Reservoir. “As the trigger level is approached we will have discussions with entitlement holders and do some planning around what that means and what transfers might eventuate,” he said. Green Lake, near Horsham and another popular recreation water, continues to fill and was already busy with yabby and boating enthusiasts at the weekend. If it fills it will open an opportunity
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Boom and bust
Wimmera Catchment Management Authority chief executive David Brennan said the region was experiencing a typical boom-and-bust scenario. “We have had three of the driest inflows on record followed by extreme-
ly wet conditions,” he said. “Flooding is always of concern, but this has so far been the type of event where we might finish with a triple benefit of water for supply, the environment and recreation. “From an environmental perspective we are likely to see a wildlife boom and that is sure to please anyone who enjoys going yabbying. “Conditions are in sync with nature, which promotes plant growth and animal breeding. “We have close to 3000 wetlands in the Wimmera, many in the west Wimmera which is one of the most magical places when there is water. “Another significant outcome is that a decent amount of water is going in to Lake Hindmarsh. Continued page 3
• Flood warnings continue • Fuel pricing in spotlight • Council elections
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HORSHAM
for neighbouring Dock Lake to receive water. Nearby Pine Lake, part of the Boga Lakes, and also outside the region’s supply system because of extraction complications, has also received water as part of a flood-mitigation plan. Lake Wallace at Edenhope is collecting water from spilling west Wimmera wetlands and a swollen Natimuk Creek ushered water into Natimuk Lake, although the Natimuk catchment needs more rain for the lake to fill.
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