General News
2 November, 2022
Lake Hindmarsh flow increases
Victoria’s largest freshwater lake, Lake Hindmarsh, is filling up as the third La Nina sends the Wimmera region into a wet spring. Last week, Wimmera Catchment Management Authority chief executive Dave Brennan predicted Lake Hindmarsh would reach...
Victoria’s largest freshwater lake, Lake Hindmarsh, is filling up as the third La Nina sends the Wimmera region into a wet spring.
Last week, Wimmera Catchment Management Authority chief executive Dave Brennan predicted Lake Hindmarsh would reach 30 per cent capacity. As of Monday, the lake is at 35 per cent capacity and rising.
“It’ll be getting closer to 40 percent within the next week or two,” he said.
“Last week there was an average of four to five gigalitres of water going through Dimboola, which is a solid amount of water that has made its way into the lake.”
Though a small amount of water trickled into the lake in 2016, the last significant filling occurred in 2011 when the lake reached 75 percent capacity.
With a solid flow of water, the lake is expected to retain its water for between six to 12 months, minimum.
“We’re in a really fortunate position that we haven’t been in for a number of years, so it’s quite unusual,” Mr Brennan said.
“All the storages upstream - Lake Bellfield, Lake Lonsdale, Taylors Lake and Lake Wartook - are all full so all that water is going to be heading straight to Lake Hindmarsh. Every drop is going to Hindmarsh.
“We’re really in the best position we have been for a number of years for it to receive some good inflows for at least the next few weeks.”
As the water levels rise, so do the opportunities for residents of nearby towns like Jeparit and Rainbow, who are beginning to see an influx of tourism.
“It is going to be a real mecca for water birds, nature, tourism and those types of things. There’s a real opportunity for the Hindmarsh Shire and community to capitalise on the natural beauty of it and the spectacular that it is going to bring,” Mr Brennan said.
“It’s going to be really good for the community to enjoy not only the environment, but also the social and recreational benefits that this water brings to the community.”
Work has already begun to prepare the area for tourists and visitors, and Amy Johnson’s Ally Harper has been eagerly watching the progress at Schultzes Beach campground.
“There was a D9 bulldozer down there clearing the beach for people to sit at and the grass has been mowed,” she said.
“The campground toilets aren’t working at the moment, but I am sure they will get that fixed quickly.”
Local bird and wildlife watchers are excited about the prospects the extra water will bring to the area.
Hindmarsh Landcare facilitator Jonathan Starks said that although the rain was becoming a problem for farmers, the lake filling will have great outcomes for the environment.
“It is filling wetlands, rivers and creeks and the water birds are loving it,” Mr Starks said.
“Waterbirds and shorebirds will return to the lake, along with lots of fish. A swamp near Lochiel had Magpie Geese on it last week and looked a bit like Kakadu (National Park, Northern Territory).
“Hopefully the water will stay around and attract tourism to the region.”
Mr Brennan anticipates that some water will remain in the lake by 2023 winter and springtime, at which point the rain from that season will build on the lake’s existing water.
“When it comes to the next winter and spring, we will already have a lake with some water in it which increases the chances of filling the lake right up, so we’ll be in a really good position then,” he said.
If the weather remains favourable, Lake Albacutya could receive a flow of water.
“We would still need another 12 months of wet conditions and then there would be a very real possibility of flow for Lake Albacutya,” Mr Brennan said.
“If we continue in this wet weather pattern with everything full upstream, we’re gonna be as close (to having flow in Lake Albacutya) as we have in about 20 or 30 years.”