Mr Brumby has now asked to be briefed about the dry lake, the processes in place to refill the city icon and, in particular, information about the Fill the Lake campaign.

Speaking on Ballarat FM radio station 3BA yesterday morning, Mr Brumby said he had been briefly informed about the new campaign, but had requested more information.

"Like every person in Ballarat and Victoria, I want to see water in Lake Wendouree," the Premier said.

Last week Ballarat businessman, Natures Cargo owner Graham Wilkie, launched a public campaign to buy a water right for the 3500 megalitres needed to refill Lake Wendouree.

Mr Brumby said yesterday he had fond memories of walking the Lake Wendouree track. "When I was treasurer, every time I went to Ballarat, if I could, I would take a brisk walk around Lake Wendouree ... I got it down to 48

minutes," he said.

"(The lake) is just a beautiful part of Ballarat."

In May last year, Mr Brumby announced Ballarat City Council would receive $650,000 for a $5.2 million project to pipe recycled water from Ballarat Goldfields to the lake.

"The State Government has contributed to a recycling proposal which works off stormwater ... that's $650,000. To be honest, I'm disappointed the lake has not be filled already," he said.

Mr Brumby pointed out that with the completion of the Wimmera-Mallee pipeline, other dry lakes in north-west Victoria had been refilled.

"It has just changed these towns ... water makes such a difference.

"If there is anything we can do to help, I'll have a look at it."