Ripples In Serenity As Lake Loses 30bn Litres
The Sunday Age
Sunday September 16, 2007
VICTORIA'S second-largest water storage, Lake Eildon, may fall to its lowest level on record this summer due to low rainfall in August.
Lake Eildon is at 22 per cent capacity, 30 billion litres less than at this time last year. Last year, it dropped to a record low of 5.4 per cent capacity, well below the previous record low of 8.5 per cent in 2003. "Eildon levels are tracking very close to last year," said Goulburn-Murray Water's Alex Marshall. "Almost all of northern Victoria is experiencing a severe water shortage, which is impacting heavily on agriculture, communities and recreation."Mr Marshall said farmers and businesses were hurting across Victoria and "relief will (only) be provided by substantial rain". Predictions for Eildon's summer level will be released by Goulburn-Murray Water in November, he said, adding that it was too early to make predictions now. "Until the end of October, significant inflows are quite possible, although we have not seen that since early July." He said until the updated information was released, last year's levels could be used as a "worst-case guide". Despite the low water level, the lake's size meant it could still be used for recreation, Mr Marshall said. "At 5.4 per cent, there is still approximately 2000 hectares of waterway, which is around 30 kilometres long." David Octigan, the owner of the Bonnie Doon Caravan Park on the shores of Lake Eildon, hopes people will still visit the lake to fish, go water-skiing and hire houseboats. But he is concerned that the lake - whose "serenity" was lauded in the Australian film The Castle - may hit its lowest level ever this summer. "I reckon it probably will . . . unless it rains, it will be worse than last year," Mr Octigan said. He said the lack of water was having a big impact on his business. "Business was abysmal last summer, but the snow season has certainly helped us along through the winter," he said. "We don't know what the future holds."Mr Octigan said he would battle through the water shortage. "We have toughed it out for 12 years now, so there is no reason to change." He said the lake needed to get back to 50 per cent capacity - so it once again flowed under the Bonnie Doon bridge - to improve tourism."August was a disaster, really, rain-wise, so we have just got to keep our fingers crossed that the next two months are a whole lot better." Mr Octigan said the low water level could not be blamed on irrigation. "The irrigators haven't got their full allocation at any time during the last 10 years."
© 2007 The Sunday Age
