Burrumbeet Management Statement

Drying Project Series 2010

Victorian lakes provide many benefits Policies and principles guiding the project to society and the environment. As drying lakes in are a result of the current dry We use lakes for a range of purposes conditions, the preferred management option is to allow including recreation and tourism. the lakes to adjust to the conditions naturally. We also value them for their cultural A range of actions may be taken to deal with issues that result as lakes dry to counteract potential environmental, heritage and as a rich source of biodiversity. economic or social implications. However, any action will need the agreement of the designated land manager Drying is a natural process and appropriate authorisations. In providing agreement, land managers will need to assess the environmental The prolonged period of below average rainfall across implication of proposed actions. Victoria has resulted in significantly reduced water levels within and many other lakes in western Major Victorian Government policies include: Victoria. Drying is a natural process and in some cases lake • The Victorian Greenhouse Strategy (2002) which beds can dry completely and remain so for a long time. develops a greater understanding of climate change impacts, and where appropriate, initiates adaptation Impacts actions relevant to Victoria. As a lake dries, some natural processes may become risks • The White Paper - Our Water Our Future; Securing that affect human health and the environment or have our water future, together (2004) which recommends social or economic impacts. The drying of a lake also initiatives to assess and manage the impacts of climate creates a strong emotional response within individuals change on water resources. and communities. • The Land and Biodiversity at a Time of Climate Change This natural response can lead to significant differences White Paper (2009) which sets the direction for Victorian of opinion on how drying lakes should be managed now Government policy and investment priorities in natural and into the future. resource management, land health and biodiversity for the next 20-50 years. Where to go for information To help people understand what is happening now and may happen in the future, lake managers have created this information sheet, explaining: • who manages different parts of the lake • the range of drying-lake issues we can expect to see now and into the future • who to go to with your concerns Joint approach for the lake’s future • future options A multi-agency pilot project – the Drying Lakes Project – brought together a range of agency experts and lake community members to form an agreed approach to future planning for the lake.

1 Drying Lakes Project – Lake Burrumbeet Management Statement

Who is responsible for Lake Burrumbeet? Acronyms The primary body responsible for daily management AAV Aboriginal Affairs Victoria activities regarding the lake is the lake land manager. CFA Country Fire Authority Other agencies and groups also have obligations or CMA Catchment Management Authority responsibilities for aspects of the lake, as shown on the map below. At present for Lake Burrumbeet the DHS Department of Human Services land manager is the City of , however the DPCD Department of Planning and City of Ballarat is negotiating the return of management Community Development to the Department of Sustainability and Environment. DPI Department of Primary Industries DSE Department of Sustainability and Environment Potential issues resulting from drying lakes EPA Environment Protection Agency A range of potential issues resulting from drying lakes MSV Marine Safety Victoria need to be considered by lake land managers and PV Parks Victoria agencies. The issues specific to Lake Burrumbeet are listed on the next page along with agencies which can RAP Registered Aboriginal Party advise individuals and communities about thier concerns. SRW Southern Rural Water Land management responsibility is colour-coded on the map.

Key

Private land Crown water frontage licence Reserved land under licence City of Crown Burrumbeet Racecourse Ballarat Committee of Management as Committee of Management Crown Grazing licence Crown land Government road

Crown land leased by Caravan Park

2 Drying Lakes Project – Lake Burrumbeet Management Statement

What is my interest or concern? Who do I go to for advice? Who else can provide information? Colour-coded on map Acid sulfate soil City of Ballarat DSE, DPI, DSE Blue green algae outbreak DSE (State Coordinator) DHS, Glenelg Hopkins CMA Southern Rural Water as regional coordinator Fairy grass seed heads (native species) – City of Ballarat (green area) general movement Caravan Park (purple area) Racecourse (pink area) Fairy grass seed heads – Vic Roads road and rail safety Vic Track City of Ballarat Fire prevention and management response City of Ballarat (green area) DSE Caravan Park (purple area) PV Racecourse (pink area) CFA Fish or eel deaths EPA (will nominate an Incident Controller) DSE, EPA, PV, DPI, City of Ballarat Glenelg Hopkins CMA Fossils – identification of damage Museum Victoria City of Ballarat or removal DSE Grazing of lake bed City of Ballarat (green area) DSE Historic cultural heritage – Heritage Victoria City of Ballarat identification of, damage or removal DSE of artefacts including bottles Indigenous cultural heritage - identification AAV, RAP City of Ballarat of, damage or removal of objects Wathaurung Group DSE Lake closure City of Ballarat DSE MSV Pest species - invasion of listed pest plants DPI (state prohibited weeds) DPI (hygiene protocols, reporting) and pest animals City of Ballarat (green area) Glenelg Hopkins CMA, Caravan Park (purple area) Racecourse (pink area) Recreation management including City of Ballarat (green area) DPCD, DSE land based infrastructure Caravan Park (purple area) Tourism Victoria Racecourse (pink area) Recreation management including City of Ballarat (Awaiting the review of the DHS, DSE water based infrastructure Marine Act) Tourism Victoria Removal of living fish stock DPI upon request by land / water City of Ballarat, DSE (biomass reduction) management agency Search and rescue Victoria Police State Emergency Service Stock wandering Animal owner City of Ballarat (impound) Vegetation Change - City of Ballarat (green area) CMA, DSE, growth of indigenous species Vehicle access - road closure City of Ballarat, Victoria police Water extraction Southern Rural Water DSE, City of Ballarat Water level City of Ballarat Glenelg Hopkins CMA SRW DSE

3 Drying Lakes Project – Lake Burrumbeet Management Statement

What is happening at Lake Burrumbeet Options for Lake Burrumbeet are listed below. now? • Create a smaller lake The City of Ballarat manages the lake area for • Crop parts of the lake bed with permits environmental purposes. Burrumbeet Racecourse holds an • Increase active management event on New Years Day, and the Caravan Park operates • Allow natural progression year round. Fairy Grass has been recognised as a plant • Plant the lake bed which creates an off-site public hazard. The City of Ballarat has established a working group which plans, monitors • Reclamation and evaluates works to reduce the impact of Fairy Grass See also Dry Lakes Project Series Future Options on the community. Over the past few years, the City of Ballarat has sprayed herbicide across the area to reduce seed head production and contain the heads to the lake Related documents - where to find them area. This will allow natural competition from other plant DSE Draft Strategy for Coastal Acid Sulfate Soils in Victoria species, which should reduce the impact of Fairy Grass. – www.dse.vic.gov.au > Coasts and Marine: open the Some grazing occurs in a small section of the lake. Coastal Acid Sulfate Soil Strategy There is interest from some groups to use the area as recreational open space. Community groups in partnership EPA Fish Death Response Procedure 2007, with council are planting indigenous trees to replace EPA publication 1092.1: www.epa.vic.gov.au > aging pine trees. Publications and Knowledge Hub > search for EPA Fish Death Response Procedure Future planning for Lake Burrumbeet, under the current lake land manager, will be determined by a Our Water Our Future, Blue Green Algae Circular DSE working group. There have been suggestions to create (updated annually): www.ourwater.vic.gov.au > a smaller lake area which would reduce evaporation Water in the Environment > Blue-green Algae > Circular and allow a permanent from the Burrumbeet Creek inflow. Laws, regulations and agreements As much of the Western Volcanic Plains flora is Activities on lakes are governed by a range of endangered, there may be opportunities to plant Victorian and Commonwealth legislation and some of the lake bed area with volcanic plains species. international agreements. See also Dry Lakes The proposal to use the area for recreation activities Project Series Understanding Lake Management that require significant open space also has some merit for further investigation. Such activities include archery, Contacts for more information shooting, flying model aircraft, mountain bike riding and other outdoor activities, as well as passive recreation. For further information contact City of Ballarat on 5320 5500. Looking towards the future A range of options has been assembled for crown land lakes likely to remain dry in the long term (20 years). Options are presented to stimulate thought and discussion rather than focus on a single solution to this complex issue. Discussions should consider the outcomes of each option for public good and the environment.

Published by the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment Disclaimer , September 2010 This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its © The State of Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment 2010 employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. Authorised by the Victorian Government, 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne. Accessibility Printed by Stream Solutions. Printed on recycled paper. If you would like to receive this publication in an accessible format, such as ISBN 978-1-74242-708-9 (print) large print or audio, please telephone 136 186, 1800 122 969 (TTY), or email ISBN 978-1-74242-709-6 (online) [email protected] This document is also available in PDF format on the Internet at www.dse.vic.gov.au For more information contact the DSE Customer Service Centre 136 186.

4 www.dse.vic.gov.au