Summer edition 2024/25
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Goulburn Murray Water's role in recreation
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Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) is Australia’s largest rural water corporation. The Victorian Water Act (1989) outlines our roles and responsibilities, including the management and supply of water for irrigation, urban, rural, and environmental use across Northern Victoria. The management of water storages also provides opportunities for recreation and tourism.
Many of the lakes, dams and reservoirs we manage have fantastic recreation infrastructure like parks, playgrounds, boat ramps and camping facilities that make them the perfect place to stay and play.
GMW actively works with local clubs and organisations at lakes, dams and reservoirs to develop joint plans to support recreational and tourism development opportunities aimed at supporting enjoyment of the waterways without adversely impacting on lake operations, water quality, environmental values, or community safety.
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Recreational Area Management Plans
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The Victorian Government has introduced new Water (Recreational Area) Regulations 2023. These regulations apply to recreational areas identified under the Water Act 1989 (Vic), including the 23 water storages and determined recreational areas GMW manages.
They aim to protect water quality, water corporation facilities, Aboriginal cultural heritage, environmental values, visitor safety, and public enjoyment.
GMW is developing Recreational Area Management Plans (RAMPs) for the 18 declared recreational areas we manage.
We are seeking your feedback on your values and what matters most to help inform the development of the RAMPs and the future of GMW-managed recreational areas.
The draft RAMPs will be published online for review and comment. They are being developed over time with the first 10 drafts to be published from late March 2025.
How will your feedback be used?
Feedback captured through the recreational values survey, previous recreational user surveys and comments received in response to the drafts will support the development of the RAMPs and inform future action plans.
To learn more and to have your say on what matters most to you please visit our website: www.yoursay.gmwater.com.au/recreation-area-management-plans
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Recreational User Survey results 2023/2024
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Each year GMW seeks feedback from our customers, the community and interested stakeholders on recreational use, visitation patterns and the facilities we manage. This feedback offers valuable insights into your preferences for recreational activities at the lakes, dams and reservours we manage.
Key insights captured are outlined below.
Driving the visitor economy
- People visit GMW managed storages for recreational purposes all year round
- Summer and autumn are the most popular seasons to visit
- 80% are visitors travelling 100 kms or more. 20% are locals travelling less than 25 kms
- People come for day visits, overnight or multi-day stays. Most come for overnight or longer. One third come for a week or more
- 98% are repeat visitors.
Why people choose GMW storages
- To access to the water/boat ramps
- For the opportunity to camp
- To access amenities
- The proximity or location.
How people access information
The most popular source of information is via:
- GMW’s website, social media pages, and on-site signage
Other popular sources of information include:
- Bureau of Meteorology (BOM)
- Maritime Safety Victoria
- Regional visitor information centres and local government
Top five activities
- Fishing
- Camping
- Gathering with friends and family
- Motorised water sports
- Spending time in nature
Top five most popular places
- Lake Eildon
- Yarrawonga Weir/Lake Mulwala
- Lake Eppalock
- Goulburn Weir/Nagambie Lakes
- Greens Lake
To view a full copy of the results please visit our website: www.yoursay.gmwater.com.au/202324-recreational-user-survey-results
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New houseboat regulations at Lake Eildon
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Lake Eildon is the only inland lake in Victoria that allows houseboating, making it a u unique and popular destination. Home to over 700 houseboats, it is central to the Victorian houseboat building industry.
Since 2020, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) has worked with GMW and the houseboat community to develop the Water (Lake Eildon Recreation Area) (Houseboats) Regulations 2024.
These regulations outline the requirements for operating a houseboat on Lake Eildon, including licensing and managing wastewater impacts. A key outcome of the regulations is the formalised need to manage grey water on houseboats. Managing greywater is crucial for maintaining water quality at Lake Eildon.
What is greywater?
Greywater includes any water that goes down an onboard drain, apart from toilets. It is made up of the water itself and things that enter the water in sinks, showers, basins, washing machines, dishwashers and spas. Greywater makes up most of the wastewater generated on board a houseboat.
Wastewater from on-board toilets is called blackwater and is treated separately.
Below are some simple and practical actions houseboat users can take now. For more information please visit: Greywater and houseboats
What does greywater contain?
Greywater is a mixture of everything that goes down the drain. It can include substances that are bad for the lake (pollutants) and that can make people and animals sick (pathogens).
Common things found in greywater include:
- Fats, oils and scraps of food from cooking.
- Soaps, detergents and other cleaning products.
- Personal care products like shampoos, sunscreens, deodorants, toothpaste, make-up and lotions.
- Small bits of plastic, fibres from clothes, skin cells, natural body oils, human hair.
- Diluted human bodily waste from showering and washing clothes.
Under the Environment Protection Act, everyone has a responsibility to actively prevent pollution.
Practical actions for managing grey water on houseboats
Here are some practical actions houseboaters can take now to reduce pollutants in greywater:
- Use sink strainers: Install sink and drain filters that capture items like hairs, fibres and bits of food that can then be emptied into a bin rather than being disposed of as greywater.
- Wipe dishes before washing: Wipe off food scraps, oil and grease with a paper towel before washing plates, utensils, pans and cooking surfaces.
- Use low phosphorus: Choose cleaning and washing products that are low in phosphorus.
- Reduce water use: Minimise water use by taking shorter showers and turning off the tap while brushing teeth or washing dishes.
- Dispose of oils and grease properly: Prepare food in ways that mean fats and oils to be easily collected and disposed of, like barbeques with a fat tray. Collect oils and grease in a container and dispose of them in the rubbish to prevent clogging the greywater system.
Back to contentsNew houseat regulations at Lake Eildonw houseboat regulations at Lake Eildon
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Boating Safety Handbook
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The latest edition of the Boating Safety Handbook includes several important updates to the Marine Safety Regulations 2023 (Vic). Here are some key changes:
- Updated safety equipment requirements: New regulations specify the types and quantities of safety equipment that must be carried on different types of vessels. This includes lifejackets, fire extinguishers, and communication devices.
- Lifejacket rules:
- General requirement: Lifejackets must be worn at all times on vessels unless exempted. This includes hire and drive vessels.
- Children: Children under 12 must wear a lifejacket at all times when on a moving vessel. Lifejackets with crotch straps are recommended to ensure they stay securely in place.
- Specific activities: People being towed by a vessel, such as water-skiers, must wear a lifejacket at all times.
- Types of lifejackets: Different types of lifejackets are required depending on the waterway and activity.
- Enhanced environmental protections: New guidelines aim to reduce the environmental impact of boating (including houseboating) activities, including proper waste disposal and measures to prevent pollution.
- Revised speed limits and zoning: Changes have been made to speed limits and designated zones on various waterways to improve safety and reduce conflicts between different types of watercraft.
- Improved training and certification: The handbook now includes updated information on the training and certification requirements for boat operators, ensuring that all operators are well-prepared and knowledgeable.
For more detailed information, you can download the Boating Safety Handbook from the Safe Transport Victoria website at safetransport.vic.gov.au
Boating Safety Handbook - Safe Transport Victoria
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GMW’s natural focus
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From saving native fish to eliminating invasive weeds, GMW’s environmental efforts are making significant contributions at the storages we manage.
We have been expanding our focus on environmental works, through a range of initiatives that support native fish populations and improve overall environmental health.
Native fish protections include:
- Fish relocation: During maintenance activities, GMW ensures that native fish are safely relocated to prevent them from being stranded in low-oxygen environments.
- Fish ladders: GMW and catchment management authorities have installed fish ladders to assist the migration of native fish species to different parts of the waterways for breeding and feeding.
- Habitat restoration: Projects like re-snagging and riparian revegetation help restore natural habitats, providing better living conditions for native fish.
Environmental projects include:
Recent projects include the removal of invasive wheel cacti and redgum forest revegetation. These efforts are part of GMW’s broader commitment to enhancing the environmental health of the storages we manage.
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Reminder – Licence renewals and jetty upgrades
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People living on waterways are reminded to get approval before undertaking any works on GMW-managed land.
Permissions are required for landscaping, vegetation management, and construction or repairs of structures such as jetties and boat ramps on GMW land. This process ensures safety and fairness for all users.
Depending on the location, additional approvals may be needed from relevant councils or catchment management authorities.
To apply for works on GMW land, visit the ‘Property Services’ tab on the ‘Forms’ page of the GMW website. For more information, visit the GMW website or contact your local GMW office or email PropertyServices@gmwater.com.au.
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How to check storage levels
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Operating and maintaining 23 water storages across northern Victoria that can cumulatively hold over 9,000,000 megalitres of water or 70 percent of the total water storage capacity in Victoria - is an ongoing and major part of GMW’s business.
GMW closely monitors all storages, their inflow and downstream releases to ensure harvesting opportunities are maximised and stored water is managed efficiently for all our customers.
We post regular updates on our website and social media channels.
For the most up-to-date information on levels please follow us on facebookand instagram or visit our website: www.g-mwater.com.au/water-operations/storage-levels
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Around the storages
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Reminder: Greens Lake New Year Closure
To ensure public safety, Greens Lake at Corop will close at 10am on Tuesday, 31 December 2024, and reopen at 12pm on Wednesday, 1 January 2025,. This closure has been in place over the New Year’s period since 2014, at the request of the region’s emergency services. During this time, Greens Lake will not be accessible for recreational activities. Campers must remove their camps before leaving the area. For more information, please phone the GMW Contact Centre on 1800 013 357.
New speed restrictions at Greens Lake
A new waterway speed restriction is expected to soon come into effect at Greens Lake to ensure visitor safety while water levels are low. When Greens Lake falls below 47.4% capacity (100 AHD), GMW implements a five-knot speed restriction for the entire lake, except for the area near the pumphouse at the lake’s northern end, which is completely prohibited for vessels. Depending on the weather, the lake could fall below 47.4% before Christmas.
Picnic Point Recreational Area Upgrades – Cairn Curran
Picnic Point Recreation Area, located on the western side of the Cairn Curran reservoir, is a popular spot for boating and fishing. GMW’s vehicle monitoring data shows the area hosts approximately 20,000 visitors each year. GMW has partnered with the Victorian Fisheries Authority and Better Boating Victoria to repair the boat ramp and picnic shelter and construct a new all-abilities amenity toilet block.
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Summer play list
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Talking Water with GMW offers a range of short and informative podcasts exploring a variety of topics and are available for free - directly from our website or download them from Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts.
Here's a few of our top recommendations to add to your summer playlist:
Episode 30: Waranga Basin internment camps
George Ferguson from the Tatura Irrigation and Wartime Camps Museum talks to us about the internment camps that were established around Waranga Basin during the Second World War.
Episode 29: Water delivery in the ‘70s
GMW Senior Drainage Engagement Officer Lew Humphreys joined GMW as a Water Bailiff back in 1979. He talks about what the role involved in those days and how the water industry has evolved since then.
Episode 22: Managing water storages
Northern Victoria’s Resource Manager Dr Mark Bailey explains the differences in the lakes, dams, and reservoirs GMW manages, and how they are operated.
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