General News
23 March, 2023
Fears for Bullen Merri
CONCERNS have been raised surrounding the future of Lake Bullen Merri if water retention and preservation methods are not prioritised as water levels continue to fall.
CONCERNS have been raised surrounding the future of Lake Bullen Merri if water retention and preservation methods are not prioritised as water levels continue to fall.
South Beach Committee of Management member Gary O’Neil said the committee was crying out for solutions for an issue which had been plaguing the lake for years.
Water levels at the lake have been in decline for decades due to a combination of factors including increased evaporation, poor drainage and water flow, and emergency resource usage such as 29 megalitres removed to assist fighting the Gnotuk crater peat fires during the St Patrick’s Day bushfires.
Mr O’Neil said action needed to be taken to address the decline, and felt improved drainage would be a cost-effective starting point.
He said existing drainage methods were inefficient for flowing water to the lake, and had been poorly maintained resulting in grass, debris and trees restricting water flow.
“We have water going to the lake but it’s not sufficient to maintain the water levels with no natural rivers or inlets, such as with Lake Purrumbete, helping to fill it,” Mr O’Neil said.
“With that a number of things have to be done, from looking at the efficiency of the existing drainage to even adding more drainage.
“We need to catch as much rain water which hits the ground as possible and get it in to the lake because it’s hitting the natural earth and soaking in to the ground.
“Every season is different, every winter is different, and the high rainfall we got in October and November is not an occurrence we can rely on to maintain water levels.”
Mr O’Neil said the water level had been receding at a quick enough level raise concern.
In 2022 the State Government installed a $2.5 million major redevelopment of the main boat ramp at South Beach under the Better Boating Fund, with Minister for Fishing and Boating Melissa Horne calling Lake Bullen Merri a “premier destination”.
But Mr O’Neil said he feared more upgrades to extend the ramp and jetty would be required if the declining water levels were not addressed.
“Every so many years it had to be extended, but with enough water coming in it needs to be extended less so there are savings to be had there,” he said.
Increased water quantity would also have a positive impact on the lake’s salinity levels, making recreational fishing more robust and viable.
Mr O’Neil said Lake Bullen Merri was the “jewel of the town” which provided important economic, cultural and natural benefits to Camperdown and surrounds.
“It’s a big economical boost,” he said.
“You only need to come here on any given day and see the amount of people using it for fishing, boating or even just recreational use.
“It brings a lot of people to the town, perhaps more than what the community knows.
“In previous years on Australia Day I have counted around 60 boats so it’s a natural wonder which is identified with Camperdown, but it’s a big asset that is slowly dying in a lot of ways.”
Gaining traction to work towards positive solutions has been a difficult task for the committee as the land surrounding the lake is owned or managed by a combination of multiple different agencies.
“It would be a benefit to the town if some form of agreement could be made because it can be overly political with who owns what around the lake,” Mr O’Neil said.
“We’d just like a bit of help, some direction in how we can get it done.
“We don’t know where to go or who to see.
“If all bodies concerned could get on the same page and work together to direct efforts we could see positive results are we’re volunteers are we can’t do it all ourselves.”
