LEHIA Autumn Newsletter 2026
Our thoughts are very much with the families impacted by the recent wildfires, and we know it will be a long journey of recovery. It has been most heartwarming to see the volunteerism and generosity of so many to selflessly help fellow Australians in their time of need.
It makes one proud to see the Australian Spirit and be part of the communities in this district. So much gratitude and thanks goes to the CFA Members, SES Members, Forest Fire Management Victoria, Police, Ambulance and those in the Incident Control Centre for their magnificent work and bravery. We owe them so much; a simple THANK YOU does not really capture this.
Feedback has been received that many people appreciated the coverage from the local volunteer operated Community Radio Station UGFM 106.9fm; with their APP, people with concerns about this area were able to be kept uptodate with local informed knowledge as you could listen from anywhere in the world (In mentioning UGFM, I declare that I have an interest as a Volunteer Presenter).
Whilst rightfully all support has gone to those directly effected as it should be, there has also been secondary impacts. This is to do with the many small businesses involved with Tourism & Recreation. At the height of the very busy Summer Season, due to the Wildfires, business trade stopped and has only been gradually returning. For a fortnight, it could have been the middle of Winter. These small businesses lost important Cash Flow that normally sees them through the Winter months.
Just asking those reading this, one of the best ways you can support these businesses is to go in and make purchases from them when you are at Eildon. Please try and make the March Long Weekend and Easter a year they will remember as they are run off their feet being so busy. There are some functions/events you may wish to support (i) Yarck Bushfire Relief Concert, Saturday 7th March; (ii) Alexandra Picnic Races Cathedral Golf Club Cup Saturday 14th March; (iii) Alexandra Rodeo, Saturday 28th March.
Further, if you need a motor, boat, jetski or houseboat serviced, see if you can get the work done locally, in the next few months. If you are seeking businesses or tradespeople, a good place to start is the Membership Directory of the Lake Eildon Houseboat Industry Association LEHIA https://www.lehia.com.au/ These businesses put in and contribute to supporting the local industry and the community, please support them. Their LEHIA Membership does say something positive about their ethics.
The Houseboat Industry at Lake Eildon has progressed significantly over the last decade and a bit, now as an Industry we are focussing on the future, the next decade.
Through the BIA Vic and BIA, often I see media releases about Maritimo and Riveria boat builders located on the Gold Coast. They are doing great stuff up there and involved in exports. At Eildon our Industry is building boats equal in quality to Maritimo & Riveria.
As an Industry, how do evolve and grow our Industry to have a similar impact here as these businesses have on the Gold Coast?
With the support of the BIA Vic and Murrindindi Shire Council, LEHIA has engaged Colin Wilson from Key Business Advisors to present to and work with LEHIA Members – “Taking Our Industry and Our Businesses from Good To Great”.
Colin has a wealth of experience working with industry and businesses to not only getting them thinking past today but focussing on the future and a pathway forward. We are looking forward to using this experience to help set the scene and direction for the next decade for our Industry.
LEHIA is waiting to hear if our application for a Grant from Worksafe has been successful. If successful, LEHIA will be putting in place a process to review Work Practices in our industry. Our staff are our most important assets and ensuring our work practices keep them safe is vitally important.
As a benefit to LEHIA Members the popular Member of The Week will be continuing shortly. Please keep an eye out for the releases to provide you with the information to go to when you require works on your boats.
As a further benefit LEHIA will be participating in and displaying Members information at the upcoming Eildon Events Twilight Markets on March Long Weekend and Easter Saturday. The concept is to grow a Recreational Boating and Fishing Cluster within this event. Last Easter around 4,000 people who are interested in Recreation and Boating attended and we received positive feedback. If you want to join the Recreational Boating & Fishing Cluster reach out to Eildon Events.
After being spoilt for 5 years with high water levels on Lake Eildon, we are now experiencing what is a normal part of the cycle and what Lake Eildon was built for to store water in the wet cycle to provide a reliable water supply to grow food in the dry cycle.
From a Recreational point of view, we do not have a water supply issue, we may have access issues from time to time. Further, from a Recreational perspective we are concerned about the top 6 feet of water, no matter what level the Lake is at. At 50% of Capacity we have equivalent to 3 Sydney Harbours; at 35% equivalent to 2 Sydney Harbours and only 720 houseboats can call this Home.
Irrigation or Discharge Season finishes on the 15th May and then the Refilling or Recharge Season commences. The last two weeks of irrigation in May there is normally low demand. With the current release of around 4,500mglt per day and inflows of around 500mglt per day there is a net decrease of 4,000mglt per day. One percent of the Lake is 33,000mglt. Current level is 48.3% and 54 days until Easter Saturday. With a similar outflow you would expect a decrease of 6.3% by Easter Saturday putting us at 42% or equivalent to 2.5 Sydney Harbours. Plenty of water to recreate on and enjoy.
Please come up and enjoy the late Summer and Autumn, absolutely the best time of the year at magical Lake Eildon.
As an Industry we should be very proud as we build World Class Houseboats that are amongst the most Environmentally Friendly Houseboats in the World whilst providing many rewarding Jobs in this Rural Area.
Love Lake Eildon
Mike Dalmau
President
LEHIA
10-02-2026