LEHIA Autumn 2025 Newsletter
The weather Gods certainly shone brightly on Lake Eildon this Summer with consistent hot weather and the occasional reprieve with cooler weather and some rain but no major storms. A great Summer to enjoy everything that Lake Eildon offers making great memories with family and friends that will last a lifetime.
Feedback from houseboat owners is they preferred the height of the Lake this year compared to last year when it was close to full supply. After the previous few year’s houseboat owners especially, new owners have had to remind themselves to back off the ropes maybe once or twice daily. It also kept the staff at each of the Marinas busy readjusting the winches on the marinas.
Fortunately, we have this system where marina staff manage the marinas with the fluctuating levels due to irrigation demand.
It appears we are going into the next Dry Cycle. This is normal and why our forefathers had the vision to build Greater Lake Eildon. Collect and store water in the Wet Cycle to provide security of water to our farmers to grow food in the Dry Cycle for all our cousins in the cities and beyond. Lake Eildon supports a massive Food bowl.
The magnificent benefit for us is we get to use the top 6 feet of water no matter where the level of the Lake is at.
One item of concern for Recreational Use of the Lake this Summer was the Blue Green Algae Alerts issued by GMW. GMW in putting out the Alerts are doing what they have to, to alert Lake users of the potential risk. This can have an impact by discouraging people coming to Lake Eildon.
In talking with people who have been here for as long as I have or longer the BGA outbreaks are becoming more regular as the years roll on. Algae exists normally in the water; it is when it reacts with phosphates it causes the Algae to bloom and become toxic. Temperature and still water are also part of the mix.
Over these years the number of houseboats has remained fairly constant; they maybe larger but have better technology. Plus, peoples’ habits have improved with the use of environmentally friendly detergents and a greatly improved attitude to the care of the environment with rubbish disposal etc.
Farmers continue to use superphosphate. However, their practices have also greatly improved as super is expensive and many are now protecting runoff into gullies and streams with Riparian Zones and better management practices of their pastures.
Then what has changed to be causing the greater frequency of BGA outbreaks?
Back when I arrived CARP were either not in the Lake or in very small numbers and the thought was that the water was too cold for the Carp. Carp have adapted to the colder waters and are now in prolific numbers.
Carp feeding habits are they are mud suckers. This means they continually suck mud to find their food supply which they thrive on. This does two things. Firstly, it destroys the very basic building blocks of the riverine ecological system inhibiting plant growth and disturbing the soil. This disturbing the soil puts back into solution any phosphates that may have settled and be inert in the soil. Some of the plant life if allowed to grow can also use up these phosphates. There appears to be a lot of logic in this explanation not only at Lake Eildon and further downstream to the Murray River and its tributaries.
The Victorian Fisheries Authority is greatly concerned with the damage Carp are doing to our riverine environment and are working with Federal Government Departments in conducting further testing to enable a Carp Virus to be released. It is understood that this extra testing will take another 18 months. The Victorian Fisheries Authority push to have the Carp Virus released should be supported with all the appropriate safeguards.
I look forward to BGA Outbreaks only very occasionally happening like many years ago and the water quality at Lake Eildon improves for everyone to safely enjoy our magical Lake.
LEHIA Members are continuing to work on having a suitable Grey Water Treatment System approved. In recent talks we believe we are 90% there in finding a suitable system. Testing continues on the system on the houseboat Imagine. Recent modifications are expected to provide a positive result. It is not only getting the system to provide a positive test result but also what maintenance of the system will be required over time. The LEHIA Members involved want to have these answers before recommending a system to houseboat owners. This positive journey continues.A reminder under the Lake Eildon Houseboat Regulations all houseboats must have a Grease Trap under their sinks and were given 9 years to implement this. We are now down to 8 years and the clock is ticking. When you next slip your houseboat, it might be worth considering installing the Grease Trap then; some houseboat owners are already doing this. Anything we can do to lessen our impact on the water quality of the Lake has to be a positive.
The Regional Development Australia Hume Region Committee held their December meeting at Lake Eildon and were hosted at the Eildon Boat Club. For lunch they were treated to a light luncheon prepared by EBC staff as we cruised out of Anderson Harbor around the Island and back to the Welcome Jetty in the space of one hour. A big thank you to Anthony Closter for volunteering the use of his houseboat Signature. To say the Committee were blown away with what they saw on their hour and with the presentation of Signature was an understatement.
Many questions were asked during the cruise. The Committee members came away with an understanding that the houseboats built at Lake Eildon are World Class and amongst the most Environmentally Friendly in the World and extremely important to the local economy with the number of jobs the Recreational Boating/Houseboating industry provides. The Committee also gained an understanding of the potential for Lake Eildon as outlined in the Activating Lake Eildon/Eildon Master Plan.
LEHIA would like to congratulate the Eildon Boat Club in being successful in receiving a Federal Government Grant to build the Eildon Maritime & Community Hub. LEHIA was happy to supply a letter of support to go with the Application. This new facility will greatly add to the infrastructure to maintain and build the houseboat fleet for generations to come. The biggest outcome will be the extra full-time jobs it will provide in this area.
Recently LEHIA issued Certificates of Appreciation to two gentlemen on their retirements that have provided great contributions to the houseboat industry over extended periods of time. The first Certificate was presented to Ric Perna who was the facility manager at Darlingford Waters Boat Club for many years. The second Certificate was presented to Robin Bayly-Jones (BJ) who has been an integral part of the Eildon Boat Harbour for 35years. LEHIA thanks both gentlemen for their contributions and wish them all the very best for their retirement journey.
Exciting news is that LEHIA will be supporting Eildon Events with the Easter Twilight Market on Easter Saturday. LEHIA Member, Tim Ewert of Inferno Marine displayed his locally built speedboat at the Australia Day Weekend Twilight Market and had an extremely positive response with around 3,000 people attending.
This led to discussions with Karine from Eildon Events, Tim and LEHIA. The outcome is we will be holding a Boat Show & Shine at the Easter Saturday Twilight Market in conjunction with Eildon Events. Car Show & Shines are very popular; however, a point of difference is to have a Boat Show & Shine in Eildon overlooking the Pondage Lakes.
LEHIA is very enthusiastic with this concept as around 4,000 people normally attend the Easter Twilight Market. LEHIA believes there is great potential to grow this event which as a by-product will help publicize Recreational Boating & Houseboating – a Mini Boat Show to embrace the Pondage Lakes with controlled demonstrations to display the various forms of Recreational Boating and disciplines.
If you have a favourite boat enter it into the Show & Shine. This Easter no entry fees for the Show & Shine but you must enter and then you might win some great prizes. What we have learned from the Yea Cruise Nights is that enthusiasts love to gather together with like-minded people to have a chat and have a look at all the other very much loved boats.Let us celebrate Recreational Boating & Houseboating at Lake Eildon.
See you at the Easter Saturday Twilight Market Boat Show & Shine.
Lake levels at the time of writing, Lake Eildon is at 73.5% of Capacity and it has been a very dry Summer for Lake Eildon and its Catchment. A prediction for the 15th May when the Irrigation or Discharge Season concludes is about 65% maybe slightly higher. It all depends on when we receive the Autumn Break and how much rain we receive. Then hopefully a decent Recharge during the following Winter/Spring. After enjoying the Wet Cycle and now going into the Dry Cycle this is normal and why Lake Eildon was built.
Looking forward to a positive year for the Houseboating and Recreational Boating Industry at Lake Eildon. Remember to always respect the water and stay Safe.
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