Dry: The boat ramp at Greens Lake no longer meets the water’s edge. Photo: Steve Huntley.
A draft plan for the future of Corop’s Greens Lake has been released, amid concerns about the steadily decreasing water level.
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The water level at the popular lake has been receding since it was decommissioned as a water storage facility in 2019.
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Taungurung Land and Waters Council, and Goulburn-Murray Water developed the plan for the lake, which is now available on Engage Vic for community consultation.
The plan includes the lake returning to a natural wetting and drying cycle, while an alternative camping option will be explored at the nearby Waranga Basin where boating activities will be maintained.
Corop resident Adrienne Hill has expressed her concerns about the lake to DELWP and the Victorian Environmental Water Holder, and encouraged others to do so too.
“I know other people have tried to get water in there and I’m probably going to come at loggerheads with it, but I just feel better if I have tried,” she said.
“It’s just such a shame.
“The birdlife on the lake is beautiful - one day there were about 20 Brolgas around the area and they’re quite unique to Corop.
“It’s also a really popular camping site but there won’t be any water for people to put their boats out, and the tourists come into Rochester and Stanhope to shop for supplies.”
In February 2020, Goulburn-Murray Water unveiled a $200,000 new shower and toilet facility at the lake – the result of more than 400 people voting for the project – and there was talk of other upgrades, including to the boat ramp.
But 18 months later, the lake is sitting at 17.9 per cent of capacity and a five-knot speed limit is in place due to the low water level making it unsafe for high-speed boating.
The future use management plan for Greens Lake was requested by the Acting Water Minister Richard Wynne in April, 2021.
Under the proposed management plan recreational activities will continue to be an important part of managing the lake, along with environmental and cultural values.
Activities such as kayaking, birdwatching, camping and walking will be central to the future use of Greens Lake with boating able to continue under the proposal – subject to conditions at the lake.
Goulburn Murray Water is the current land manager and will lead the transition, but as it no longer requires Greens Lake as an asset, a transfer of ownership to the Taungurung Land and Waters Council is part of the medium term plan.
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