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    BIG FISH REPUTATION: The late Graeme Combe, left, and Kevin Matuschka handle a massive 26.3-kilogram Murray cod caught at Green Lake near Horsham in 1994.

Calls continue for Green Lake water

The entire September 22, 2021 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!

A lifetime advocate for popular Green Lake near Horsham has continued to stress her long-held belief that the lake needs greater acknowledgment as a critical asset  and landmark.

Libby Peucker said apart from providing obvious water-based recreation opportunities, the lake provided a profound promotional snapshot for motorists travelling through and to the Wimmera’s heart.



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Mrs Peucker farms at nearby Bungalally, has fifth-generational family connections to the area, has long been heavily involved in improvement, development and promotion as a member of Green Lake Action Group and is a member of Green Lake-based Horsham Yacht Club.

“I operate the Western Highway Driver Reviver program at Green Lake for North West Grampians Lions and the number of motorists who stop at the lake is amazing,” she said.

“What they see is often their first impression of Horsham and what is reflective of a municipal population of about 20,000.

“This leaves a lasting perception, without even thinking about the recreation and health benefits of water-sport activities such as boating, swimming and fishing.”

Mrs Peucker outlined her thoughts in a letter to the editor, in response to comments from Victoria’s recreational fishing peak body leader Rob Loats.

Mr Loats earlier this month called for greater recognition of recreation needs in bulk water-
sharing arrangements in the region.

Here is her letter –

SIR, – As I write, water is being transferred via the open channel system straight past the Green Lake outlet onto Taylors Lake to benefit other communities. 

Green Lake is only 24 percent full. It has received some local run-off, but needs about 500 to 1000 megalitres for it to be usable this summer.

GWMWater customers pay an annual fee of $17.56 for recreational water to benefit our community, but not for Green Lake. Our sporting clubs benefit from this.

Horsham Rural City Council has again allocated $35,000 for water for Green Lake, but GWMWater has refused the request.

Since completion of the Wimmera-Mallee Pipeline 11 years ago, which our community supported, we are now at a disadvantage and in some cases worse off. 

The pipeline replaced some 17,500 kilometres of open channel system and saves some 120,000 megalitres of water a year of which only 3090 megalitres is available to purchase for recreational lakes throughout the region – one percent only.

This is now wrong and unfair and unsustainable into the future.

Water is vital for all communities for family activities – fishing, swimming, camping, bird-watching, yabbying and all forms of water sports such as sailing, jet-skiing and skiing.

Retaining youth in our communities is our future right across the board. 

Tourists increase economic benefits. Lifestyle and mental wellbeing also must be considered.

Since the worst of droughts, 2000 to 2010, broke and we recorded our largest flood recorded in our region, 2011, water returned to our valuable waterways.

During this time, Green Lake Action Group of volunteers spent many hours upgrading facilities and a beach area at the lake. 

A new barbecue gazebo was built with financial support from Horsham Sports and Community Club. 

There were upgrades and redesigns to Horsham Yacht Club rooms, upgrades for disabled toilets and hand rails and steps to the beach.

A former kiosk is now revamped as a Driver Reviver facility operated by North West Grampians branch of Horsham Lions Club.

Many volunteer fundraising and catering events, petitions to governments, boat rallies, fireworks and many working bees have made Green Lake a place to visit, rest and enjoy.

We are grateful to the Horsham council for its support and maintenance of the area.

Horsham’s community deserves the benefit of both recreation and environmental water for Green Lake.

Libby Peucker

Bungalally