Urgent action needed to avoid major fish-kill

Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has called on the State Government to take urgent action to prevent a looming major fish kill at Greens Lake near Corop in northern Victoria.

Ms Sheed warned the government that Greens Lake is at only 22 per cent water capacity and dropping rapidly. In recent years the lake was restocked with 337,000 Murray cod and golden perch at a cost of about $1.5 million, she said.

Ms Sheed said:

“Recreational fishing organisations and local fishermen who know the lake very well warn that within weeks, and certainly in the event of a long hot spell, evaporation will kill thousands of fish including Murray cod and perch.”

“In recent years Greens Lake has been stocked with 337,000 Murray cod and golden perch, with around $1.5 million of recreational fishing licence restocking revenue invested into the lake,” Ms Sheed said.

In calling on Water Minister The Hon Lisa Neville to take immediate emergency action, Ms Sheed said:

“An allocation of 10 gigalitres annually is needed to allow Greens Lake to remain viable for recreational and environmental purposes and to stop the impending fish kill.

“With water allocations in northern Victoria now at 100 per cent the government must act now.”

Ms Sheed added:

“I, like many, do not want to see our iconic Murray Cod floating on the surface of this lake such as we saw on the Darling River several years ago.

“Greens Lake means a great deal to surrounding communities and has been a real asset, driving tourism, and is host to many other recreational activities which visitors and locals enjoy.”

“The lake needs help urgently if we are to avoid a major fish kill in the near future,” Ms Sheed warned.

ENDS

Media contact

Jacqui Hawkins 0403 657 267│jacqui.hawkins@parliament.vic.gov.au

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