As we rapidly approach another Summer Holiday Season at Lake Eildon, the Houseboat Industry has enjoyed another positive year. This doesn’t just happen but comes from a lot of hard work by all involved in the Industry.
Despite Interest Rate rises and concern about the Economy the Houseboat Builders have all been very busy with new houseboat builds, houseboat extensions, renovations, and maintenance. This work has flowed onto the many sub-contractors and suppliers that also benefit from a vibrant, thriving houseboat industry.
Our friends at the BIA Vic provide data on how important the Recreational Boating & Fishing Industry is to the economy of Victoria. Well, the Houseboat Industry as a significant part of Recreational Boating at Lake Eildon is recognized as a very important sector of the Local Economy providing many local jobs.
This positive outlook does not come without challenges.
Firstly, attracting and training qualified staff is a challenge not only for the houseboat industry but also other rural industries. Importantly the BIA Vic has appointed Dan Brown as Manager of Education & Industry Skills. Dan has visited LEHIA Members and gained an in-depth knowledge of the requirements and issues facing employing people in the houseboat industry at Lake Eildon. The BIA Vic now has a Careers Guide and a web site for advertising marine industry jobs. LEHIA looks forward to continuing to work with BIA Vic on employment issues.
LEHIA congratulates Kobe Gogoll, an apprentice at Inferno Marine (LEHIA Member), for being a Finalist at the BIA Vic Apprentice of the Year Awards that were announced at the recent Melbourne Boat Show at Docklands.
The second important factor inhibiting employment at Eildon has been the lack of appropriate housing and the other associated Social Capital. The Lake Eildon Master Plan identifies a significant amount of State Government Private Title Land that could be sold for housing that meets market expectations. This land is managed by GMW on behalf of the State Government.
LEHIA has been advocating to Murrindindi Shire Council, the Goulburn Regional Partnership, RDV, and others that this land should be opened up and sold with the appropriate Rural Living Zone already in place. This would create a significant number of jobs as up to 500 houses are continually built over the next decade. Unfortunately, the wheels of Government turn very slowly at times.
LEHIA has been part of the DEECA Houseboat Stakeholders Group for some time. Up until recently the main role of this group has been to seek viable solutions for the management and treatment of Grey Water Discharge from Houseboats.
This issue has had a contentious history, however, this time round the respect and relationship that has been built up between DEECA staff and LEHIA Members has been excellent.
As President of LEHIA it makes me extremely proud of our Industry Members as even though they work in different businesses they have come together to find a viable workable solution for the treatment and management of Grey Water Discharge from Houseboats. Expensive Consultants from all over the World have not provided the solution but Aiden Gale (Faster Plumbers) and John Gysberts (Status Luxury
Houseboats) have worked together to come up with a system that we believe works. This system has been trialled at Aiden’s home with positive laboratory tested results. Now working with DEECA and GMW it has been installed on a houseboat for in situ trialling with the testing of the outputs that are returned to the Lake. These outputs will be laboratory tested over the next months.
Again, the Industry Members have worked together to make this happen, even though they are all extremely busy in their businesses. Paul Williams (Houseboat Assist) volunteered his houseboat “Imagine” to trial the system on; Lake Eildon Slipping Services slipped Imagine onto stands at Eild Marina and then returned her to the Lake after installation; Aiden Gale (Faster Plumbers) and John Gysberts (Status LH) worked together to install the system.
Basic information on the System, all Grey Water Effluent on the houseboat is piped to the system which is located in a pontoon storage pod; It then goes through (i) Gator Pro Strainer (ii) Diatomaceous Earth Filter (iii) Ultra-Violet Filtration and the resultant output is returned to the Lake. There is a small pump that pushes the liquid through the system.
We will be eagerly awaiting the laboratory test results over the next months. From the results of the benchtop testing, we believe the results will be positive.
All discussions at the Houseboat Stakeholders Group with DEECA and GMW Staff is if this and maybe other systems prove to be successful, they will only be required to be installed on newly built houseboats with the new set of Lake Eildon Houseboat Regulations which are expected to come into effect on 1st July 2024.
A couple of important messages from this journey; when Industry and Government Bureaucrats work together in a collaborative respectful manner great things can be achieved.
Secondly, our Lake Eildon Houseboat Industry has some brilliant minds and even though we respect we might be in competition with each other, but when we come together collaboratively with a great spirit, we can achieve great things.
At Lake Eildon we proudly produce world class environmentally friendly houseboats that provide many local jobs.
Some people say, why is treating Grey Water so important. As part of the process with the Houseboat Stakeholders Group, DEECA staff provided information from the Department of Health and the EPA as to why we should be concerned.
Effectively, the Department of Health look at a houseboat as a house. At home, in the suburbs of Melbourne, you pay Melbourne Water to dispose of your Black Water and Grey Water. They want the same for houseboats. Currently, you pay GMW to dispose of your Black Water. With this solution under trial hopefully we will satisfy the Department of Health.
From the EPA perspective, under the new EPA Act, everyone has a duty to minimize pollution where possible. This new solution will hopefully go a long way to satisfy their concerns.
Why have Department of Health Regulations? Why have Energy Safe Victoria Gas Compliance Regulations? It is very much about your most precious possessions, your children, your family and
irrespective of the EPA Act most people I talk to love Lake Eildon and want it to continue to be special for the next generations as well.
It is the intention of LEHIA working in conjunction with DEECA and with the permission of Paul Williams to organize an open day where those interested can view the system on Imagine.
Currently with only a small number of houseboats having Grey Water Systems, LEHIA encourages houseboat owners, if possible, to please use environmentally friendly detergents on their houseboats (EBC Office carries supplies) and if possible, when preparing dishes for cleaning that you wipe off fat, grease and food particles and place in your rubbish bin. Everyone doing their bit helps. Thanks.
At the time of writing, Lake Eildon is still at 99% of Capacity or in other words equivalent to SIX Sydney harbours. The Lake looks magnificent as the water blends seamlessly into the Forests and Mountains; it is truly a magical place.
This will be two years running of having a full Lake Eildon; enjoy it as the cycle will change as we are a land of drought and flooding rains; this is why our forefathers built Lake Eildon to deliver reliable water for food production, jobs and prosperity for this wonderful country.
We get the side benefit of creating those special memories that last a lifetime with our families.
Wishing a Merry Christmas to you and your families.
A very Happy, Prosperous, Healthy and Safe New Year.
Always respect the water.
Love Lake Eildon
Mike Dalmau
President LEHIA