GREEN Lake was a hive of activity over the Christmas and new year period, with site bookings almost at full capacity.
More than 50 of the available 56 powered sites were booked as the region welcomed visitors from across the state, including Bendigo, Melbourne, Ballarat and Swan Hill, while others travelled interstate.
President of the Green Lake Committee of Management Jarrod McKenzie said for many local residents, Green Lake was an extension of their backyard throughout the summer, with many taking up residency at the lake during this period.
“For a lot of the farmers, the lake provides an opportunity to wind down after harvest,” he said.
“It’s a stress release and I don’t know what they would do without it.”
He said the lake provided the perfect backdrop on a hot Mallee summer’s day, with recreational activities such as fishing, boating and water sports a huge drawcard for visitors.
Mr McKenzie said the committee had worked hard to ensure the lake was in good condition after blunt pondweed took over the lake in recent months.
“Around three months ago the lake was covered in it,” he said.
Local volunteers spent many hours at the lake removing the weed to ensure it could be utilised throughout summer.
“If we didn’t do it, the lake would be unusable,” Mr McKenzie said.
These sentiments were echoed by fellow committee member Kerrin Griffiths.
“The lake is good for the town and has a flow-on effect for local businesses and the economy,” Mr Griffiths said.
Tourism at the lake injects more than $100,000 into the local economy over the summer period.
Mr Griffiths said it was imperative that the committee continued to keep on top of the weed or valuable tourism dollars would hang in the balance.
“If we couldn’t use the lake for recreational purposes, you would lose a large proportion of your campers,” he said.
“They come here to ski and take advantage of the recreational activities.”
Horsham resident Bev Fraser said the lake was a meeting point for her to catch up with friends over the summer.
Her group travelled from Nhil, Nyah West and Ballarat.
“It’s just beautiful and pet friendly,” she said, adding she was looking forward to exploring Sea Lake and the silo artworks.
“We will have a look around Sea Lake while we are here, do some fishing and go to the pub for dinner.”
Lee-Ann Moyle of Ballarat has been visiting the lake for many years.
“We’ve been coming here for the past eight years, ever since the water has been back in the lake,” she said.
“I like the peace and quiet, and there’s lots to do.”
