General News
1 December, 2023
“Trophy” trout lake needs help
ANGLERS that have enjoyed bountiful fish at Lake Bullen Merri are calling for Minister for Environment, Tourism, Sport and Outdoor Recreation Steve Dimopoulos, to free up funding for algae-busting technologies.
The calls come after a severe algal bloom at the lake around four weeks ago, in addition to the current algal bloom.
The anglers are being supported by various bodies, including the Victorian Recreational Fishing Peak Body (VRFish) and Victoria Fishing Authority (VFA).
VRFish executive officer Ben Scullin said there had been a variety of impacts from the algal blooms at the lake.
“The two main effects that would be obvious would be a fish kill; when the algae dies and is eaten by bacteria, it can take a lot of oxygen out of the water, so we get fish kills. There’s been quite a few fish kills in Bullen Merri over time,” he said.
“The second one is the amenity; it puts people off using it or going there, so there’s a perception that the water’s no good for fishing.
“You don’t get the regional economic expenditure outcomes that you should.”
Lake Bullen Merri was a popular trout lake, alongside Lake Purrumbete, attracting many people from all over Australia.
But Mr Scullin said he is concerned about what may happen to what many call a “trophy trout lake”.
“What we’re concerned about is the intensity of the blooms and the frequency that they’re occurring, and that it will cause a decline in recreational fishing in that lake,” he said.
“As the peak recreation fishing body, we’re watching the agencies try and chip away at the issue, but there’s got to be a more concerted effort.
“You’re probably not going to solve the issue, but you certainly can manage and mitigate it.”
One such mitigation effort was Corangamite Shire Council’s trial of the EnviroSonic ultrasound algae control technology, which ran from mid-December 2021 to April this year.
The devices could control algae in semicircles of up to 300 metres using ultrasound waves to stress algae.
“We had Corangamite Shire step up and show leadership with their technology trial, and that’s opened the door to say that’s feasible in terms of it didn’t interrupt fishing, it wasn’t intrusive,” Mr Scullin said.
“Council didn’t have to do that; it was a proper leadership position from council to step up and say we’ll take this trial on.
“We’re at the next stage where we have to do a pilot study; where you actually have to make the case for investment.”
Mr Scullin said it was “all shoulders to the wheel” to try and control the algae in the lake.
“We had a situation where the boat ramp was closed due to safety issues, there’s no bins, there’s an algal bloom so bad that fisheries can’t even stock fish, in one of our premier trout lakes,” he said.
“If we can pull it all through, then we’ll have a situation where perhaps the algal bloom frequency and intensity will be managed such we’re not going to have the impacts.”
One of the anglers fighting to save Lake Bullen Merri is Garry Ridgeway, who has been fishing the lake regularly since 1968.
As an avid fisherman, Mr Ridgeway has been involved with many fish releases over the years and has seen many algal blooms at the lake.
He said he, and other anglers calling for action, are not going after anyone.
“I’ve got to make this point because some people grab hold of things and say they’ve got another agenda,” Mr Ridgeway said.
“We’ve got no other agenda; not one other agenda.
“We walk down onto our lake and we can’t put our boat in because of the blue-green algae. That’s the reality; it’s a toxic algae.”
Mr Ridgeway was concerned Lake Bullen Merri would end up like Deep Lake in Derrinallum and Lake Tooliorook in Lismore, which suffer from year-round algal blooms.
“It’s an ongoing problem; it’s a huge problem to fix, because there are many influences that create our blooms,” he said.
“This isn’t just for fisherman; this is for all boat users, yachters, skiers, jet-boat users, swimmers, everybody. Even dog-walkers, who let their dogs walk.”
Mr Ridgeway said while he and his fellow anglers were “pushing anyone’s barrow”, they are keen to support the new technology after a seemingly positive trial.
“We are suggesting that it can be the answer because it’s new technology; when I say it’s new technology, it’s been used all around Victoria for 10 years now in water management catchment areas, drinking water, to kill algae,” he said.
“The people I credit the most for us being able to have a look at this as lake users is the local Corangamite Shire Council.
“We do not, under any circumstances, blame the council or anyone else for not continuing on with it because it comes with a price.
“They were put in a position to trial it; as soon as the money ran out, where do they go?”
Mr Ridgeway said the concerned lake users were calling for ministerial action.
“I’m not politically inclined in any shape or form; I’m just a fisherman,” he said.
“We need the Minister for Environment, that’s our fishing minister now, to instruct his authorities to act on Bullen Merri and make funds available to solve this problem at Lake Bullen Merri. This is the only way we can do it.
“Like anything in the world today, it comes with a price. There is some conjecture with the price.
“I have the exact quotes for what it cost, and it is well within the reach of what governments can afford to spend to preserve a lake like Bullen Merri.”
A recent meeting has resulted in the decision to call for a grant of around $500,000.
