Greens Lake was officially decommissioned as an irrigation storage in 2019 and is set to transition back to its natural wetland condition under the draft Greens Lake Action Plan.
Returning the lake to a natural wetland will benefit plants and animals, including small-bodied fish and many species of water birds, such as the brolga.
Greens Lake is part of a significant cultural landscape for the Taungurung people and DELWP’s management plan seeks to reflect this significance.
Goulburn-Murray Water will continue to offer free camping at Greens Lake and recreational visitors will be welcome for activities such as kayaking, birdwatching, camping and walking.
However, the variability of water levels will increase and there will be fewer years when powered boating activities are possible.
The draft action plan takes into account nearby Waranga Basin as a popular destination for many Greens Lake visitors and the Victorian Government is supporting G-MW to establish a free camping ground for more campers to visit Waranga Basin and make use of the on-water boating opportunities there.
The online public consultation period opened on December 13, seeking community feedback to contribute to the development of the final Greens Lake Action Plan.
This is an opportunity for recreational users and nearby residents to consider and comment on the draft plan as it currently stands.
The lake was decommissioned as storage as part of the $2 billion Connections project, Australia’s largest irrigation modernisation project.
The decommissioning counted for eight gigalitres of water savings towards Victoria’s obligations under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, which the department says could otherwise have been met by Commonwealth buybacks from farmers.
The draft plan consultation period ends on January 31, 2022.
Review the draft action plan and complete a submission on the Engage Vic website to have your say. Visit: engage.vic.gov.au/draft-greens-lake-action-plan
