In Ballarat earlier this week, Premier John Brumby and Water Minister Tim Holding marked the start of water flowing into Lake Wendouree from a new 800-metre pipeline constructed from the Ballarat West Bore to the Lake as part of a $1.3 million Victorian Government project to fast-track filling the Lake.

Mr Brumby said the new pipeline meant that regardless of rainfall and stormwater run-off boats would be able to return to Lake Wendouree in the middle of next year, or even earlier, with the lake to fill by the end of next year.

“Like many people in Ballarat, and indeed across our State, I want to see Lake Wendouree once again become part of the social heart of this great city,” Mr Brumby said.

“It’s been great to see water flowing into the Lake in recent months from rainfall and flows from other water projects, but it is this pipeline that will enable Lake Wendouree to fill once again.

“The new project will provide Lake Wendouree with its single largest permanent water source and is the right solution so that even in dry years people can enjoy the Lake.

“Once the Lake is full our Government will restock it with native perch and trout as part of our statewide fish stocking program which will make it an even greater attraction for locals and tourists who love to fish.”

In June this year, the State Government committed $1.3 million towards a new solution to fast-track filling Lake Wendouree.

Lake Wendouree was used at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics for rowing, canoeing and kayaking events. The Lake has not been full since 2002 and completely dried out because of prolonged drought in December 2006.

The Government is funding the piping of an additional 1700 megalitres of water, more than double the combined amount of water currently available for the Lake from other sources.