BEST PRINT OR DIGITAL HOUSE ADVERTISEMENT 2013 - 2014 Ocer 7,000 Circulation
Winner The Weekly Advertiser
Vol. 17 No. 28
FREE PUBLICATION
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
VCPA 2013-2014 Advertising Awards winner
CIVIC PRIDE: Horsham municipal leaders will present Greg McKinnon with a 2015 Young Citizen of the Year Award at Australia Day celebrations on Monday. Communities across the region have planned a variety of community events to mark the occasion. More on Australia Day award winners and events on page 5. Picture: DEAN LAWSON
Lake Lonsdale plea BY DEAN LAWSON
A
State Government decision to ‘rescue’ Toolondo Reservoir has provided fresh incentive for a push to find a way to establish longterm water security for Lake Lonsdale near Stawell.
Lake Lonsdale advocates, who have lobbied for many years for authorities to maintain recreational water levels in the popular lake, greeted the Toolondo news with mixed emotions. All Lonsdale supporters The Weekly Advertiser spoke to this week joined in celebration of Toolondo developments.
They were also excited that the government had responded to a community plea and that it might listen to other submissions. But they said they also felt ‘frustrated’ and ‘annoyed’, especially with Premier Daniel Andrews’ declaration that the Toolondo decision was a oneoff commitment. Stawell businessman Shane Young, who has a close association with recreational water users, summed up much of the feeling. “It’s great that Toolondo has received some water but from our perspective it’s hard not be annoyed with the whole pro-
cess,” he said. “We know and understand that Lonsdale is an environmental lake but we’ve been asking for years for authorities to leave just a little bit in there – perhaps 30 percent – for recreation. “The government has put in $100,000 for Toolondo and I suggest that if that was the case for Lonsdale, the government would get that back 10-fold from recreational water users in tax and economic activity out of Stawell and Halls Gap.” Lonsdale’s key role in the transfer of environmental flows from Mt William Creek into the Wimmera River system and
high evaporation rates have long been a stumbling block in the push for recreational water in the lake. When it holds water it attracts angling, boating and holidaying enthusiasts from across the state.
Qualified
Mr Young said everyone expected lakes to empty during times of drought. But when water was readily available in the system, Lake Lonsdale ‘more than qualified’ for its share. “It gets complicated with the water system but at the end of the day all we want is a little
bit of recreational water supply – water that brings in millions of tourism dollars, money our town needs,” he said. “When Lonsdale had water it got to the stage that I could have put on two extra staff to just look after the fishing tackle side of the business.” Northern Grampians Mayor Murray Emerson said he hoped the government decision to provide 5000 megalitres to a drying Toolondo would ‘open the door’ to further examination of the Lonsdale lobby. “The lobbying continues,” he said. “We’ve been arguing about it for a long time. Hopefully the
IN THIS ISSUE • Wimmera Uniting Care’s new boss • Ararat Dog Rescue • Winery to host concert Read it online: www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
AUDITED: 23,402 COPIES
October 2013 to March 2014 Source: AMAA; CAB Total Distribution Audit for further information visit www.auditedmedia.org.au
decision on Toolondo provides an example to back up this argument. “We won’t be missing the opportunity. We will be campaigning to get our fair share. There is certainly a precedent there now and we will be making use of that.” In latest developments, runoff from heavy rain in the catchment and a need to maintain water quality has prompted GWMWater to divert 4000 megalitres from Lake Bellfield to Lake Fyans, also near Stawell. • State angling group applauds Toolondo decision and editorial, page 7.