EXCLUSIVE: A PEAK recreational fishing body has called for an investigation into replenishing two dry lakes within Mount Gambier’s crater lakes precinct.
SA Recreational Fishing Advisory Council (RecFish) is today expected to give details of the bold proposal to a parliamentary select committee hearing into regional Australia.
Under the proposal, the Brownes and Leg of Mutton lakes – which are nestled adjacent the Valley Lake – would be refilled with water to regenerate fish stocks and community water-based activity.
Both lakes dried due to the plummeting water table in the 1960s and 1980s.
The Brownes Lake bed is now picturesque picnic spot and home to a disk golf course.
RecFish project spokesperson Ian Fitzgerald told The Border Watch yesterday the proposal also included replenishing Greenrise Lake near Penola.
“RecFish believes the empty lakes may be satisfactorily filled using environmental water allocations for the long term community benefit on both social and economic grounds,” Mr Fitzgerald said.
He argued the opening up of these lakes would drive substantial economic returns and employment opportunities, particularly fuelling the region’s tourism economy.
“People love to go kayaking, fishing and boating on lakes. These lakes would bring all sorts of visitors to Mount Gambier given there are around 277,000 recreational fishers in South Australia.”
Mr Fitzgerald said the lakes had been dry for decades and it was an opportune time to explore rejuvenating these dried water bodies.
“If we don’t start exploring this concept, we will never get there,” he said.
While an engineering report had not been prepared, the recreational sector leader said the proposal was a concept that should be explored.
He said there many examples of where government quarantined water to replenish reservoirs, lakes and river systems.
Mr Fitzgerald said the Mount Gambier region’s aquifers could be used to refill these lakes, which were once home to water-based and social activity.
He said a socio-economic study into the potential development of 24 lakes in Western Victoria for community use concluded this could generate more than $27m per year.
“As South Australian Government and regional bodies have recognised climate changed developments, conservation of fish and aquatic animals have been identified as a need,” Mr Fitzgerald said.
“This proposal provides positive opportunities to implement these elements.”
Mr Fitzgerald said RecFish aimed to form a steering committee to work on a concept over the next 12 months.
“We want to get the project shovel-ready to tap into federal and state government funding.”
Mr Fitzgerald cited the Coorong’s $60m restoration project as an example of government funds being used to rejuvenate water bodies.
Regional recreational fisher Peter Whitehead, 81, yesterday backed calls for more social activities at the crater lakes precinct.
“I remember catching yabbies in the Leg of Mutton when I was a kid,” Mr Whitehead said yesterday.
“There was a wooden platform where we used to stand on.”
Mr Whitehead – who also remembers Brownes Lake with water – said it was a shame these two lakes dried over the years.
“I have very fond memories of these lakes as a kid,” he said.
“The crater lakes is such a beautiful spot, it is too good to waste.”
The parliamentary inquiry is canvassing matters affecting regional Australia.
Submissions were called late last year.
