Representatives from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Goulburn-Murray Water, Victorian Fisheries Authority and the Taungurung Land and Waters Council have been relocating native fish in Greens Lake to other waterways to help them survive as the water level drops.
The lake is at 13.5 per cent capacity.
State Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed was disappointed the health of the popular recreational spot had come to this point.
“I have been asking the Victorian Government and both the Commonwealth and Victorian environmental water holders to fill the lake since its degeneration in 2020 but they seemed to feel it was unnecessary,” Ms Sheed said.
“In March last year, the Victorian Environmental Water Holder stated in a letter to me that Goulburn-Murray Water had consulted with community and local government and concluded that the lake should be decommissioned and returned to a more natural watering regime, which would ultimately increase flora and fauna values.”
Ms Sheed said the Victorian Government was considering allowing the lake to return to its natural wetting and drying cycle.
“I cannot see how a dry lake bed will be conducive to healthy bird and fish populations,” she said.
“I have written to the ... environmental water holders again ... to (ask them to) consider parting with some of their abundance of water to save Greens Lake.”
DELWP is developing a Greens Lake Action Plan and G-MW said it was working to establish new free camping on the banks of Waranga Basin to replicate Greens Lake.
Independent candidate for Nicholls Rob Priestly also voiced his concerns and called upon the Federal Government to explain how it intended to help the situation.
“This is a real test of how much the Liberal-Nationals government cares about people in this electorate,” Mr Priestly said.
“Greens Lake is a really important community asset, and it should remain available to our local communities.
“The government prides itself on rolling out grants for basin communities affected by the basin plan.
“Here is the perfect opportunity for an investment to save Greens Lake.
“Marginal electorates have been getting money for these sorts of projects for decades. Now it’s our turn.
“Lots of money has been invested in camping facilities and fish stocking activities in recent years.
“What has been the point of these investments now the lake is to be converted into a dry lake?
“I’m also concerned for the Traditional Owners being promised a return to managing a natural system reflective of what was here before European development.
“Without access to water from upstream, they are potentially being granted a wetland without any water.”
7°C