PIPES have been turned on at decommissioned water lagoons in Merrigum set to be transformed into community fishing hubs.
For 20 years these former water storage sites have sat empty. Thanks to the new Dunyak Moira project (meaning fishing lake in Yorta Yorta language), led by Goulburn Valley Water (GVW) in partnership with local businesses and community groups like the Burnaga Indigenous Fishing Club, they will be full in coming weeks.
Rather than decommission the sites, Dr Steve Capewell, managing director of GVW said, “A few bright minded and forward-looking individuals got their heads together and said, ‘We could do something really spectacular if we came together and started to think about what community amenity could be provided by repurposing these assets.”
Fish habitats have been constructed at the bottom of the lagoons using donated materials, including recycled concrete pipes, and relocated debris from the June 2021 storms, where Bushfire Recovery Victoria CEO, Mariela Diaz said over 200 homes and thousands of trees were destroyed.
“These fish habitats are from our Romsey site. As a result of the trees that were destroyed in the Central Highlands, some 11,000 root balls have been distributed to 11 different fish habitats,” she said. “Root balls are very difficult to use. These would have ended up as woodchips in playgrounds or whatever else, which is a terrible waste of our beautiful timber from across Victoria.”
“All the trees that have been processed have ended up as community projects. I think it’s a good way to give back to community, and a good example of community, government, and private sector collaboration, particularly after so much trauma.” said Ms Diaz.
Burnanga Indigenous Fishing Club president, Corey Walker said that the new Arcadia Fish Hatchery will donate some fish to stock the new ponds.
“The main purpose is getting our young people back on Country, and most importantly, learning about the environment,” he said.
Works are ongoing at the site. However, keen fishers and families will be excited to know that come spring, the lagoons should be open to anyone that wants to throw in a line.
