Toolondo at ‘Mother Nature’s mercy’

“The Wimmera-mallee Pipeline is one of the greatest bits of infrastructure I’ve ever seen” – Rob Loats

leader of Victoria’s peak anagling organisation believes rain is the only way the Wimmera’s premier fishing spot can return to its former glory. Vrfish chairman Rob Loats conceded Lake Toolondo was at the mercy of Mother Nature and regional water-management schedules. Mr Loats said he struggled to see a future for Lake Toolondo if Rocklands Reservoir, its feeder storage, continued to fall short of a trigger-release level.

He said a Wimmera-mallee Pipeline agreement established a trigger level many years ago as a guide to release water into Lake Toolondo.

“There has been insufficient water running into the Gwmwater storages,” Mr Loats said.

Mr Loats said before the creation of the Wimmera-mallee Pipeline, Lake Toolondo, similar to many other impoundments, was at the mercy of drought.

“The Wimmera-mallee Pipeline is one of the greatest bits of infrastructure I’ve ever seen in my life,” he said.

“Without the Wimmera-mallee Pipeline, we would be in dire straits. Farm supply would be in jeopardy and there would be no water for recreational activities.”

Mr Loats said a positive aspect of the lack of water from Lake Toolondo

would be less noxious carp. He said carp had environmental impacts such as competing with other fish for food and polluting water.

“They were taking over the lake — having them gone is a good outcome in a bad situation,” Mr Loats said.

He said Rocklands Reservoir was a good alternative fishing destination.

“It is heavily stocked with fish.”