So, why is Ballarat's Lake Wendouree still empty?

According to Central Highlands Water it all comes down to water entitlements. Lake Lascelles has one and Lake Wendouree doesn't.

CHW chief executive officer Neil Brennan said there were differences between the situations surrounding the two lakes.

"There was an entitlement in the case of Lake Lascelles,'' Mr Brennan said.

In September last year, water began flowing in Lake Lascelles for the first time in a decade. Pipes feeding the lake were eventually turned off last week.

In 2008, GWMWater announced plans to supply selected recreation waterways with 3000 megalitres of water from pipeline savings.

The lake at Hopetoun was the first waterway to be supplied with recreation water from Grampians storages, via the Wimmera-Mallee Pipeline.

Lake Lascelles is now full after GWMWater sent 520 megalitres, significantly less than the 3500 required for Lake Wendouree.

"Lucky is the biggest understatement,'' says Yarriambiack Shire Mayor Jean Wise about the refilling of Lake Lascelles.

She said as the lake was deemed "recreational'' and was entitled to water from the Wimmera-Mallee Pipeline, a special deal was struck. "As leg one of the pipeline took recreational water flows through our shire, we could

totally fill Lake Lascelles from the pipeline,'' Cr Wise said.

Cr Wise said a feeling of wellbeing had been returned to the region since the lake's refill. "Boats have returned, families have returned. It feels good,'' she said.

And she has encouraged Ballarat to continue with its push to refill Lake Wendouree.

"Nagambie is full, Lascelles is full, Maryborough is full, Bendigo is full, Albert Park is full. Lake Wendouree is one of the last lakes not to be filled," says Fill our Lake campaign organiser Graham Wilkie.

Two weeks ago Mr Wilkie, owner of Natures Cargo, launched a public campaign to buy a water right for the 3500 megalitres to refill Lake Wendouree.

vp+8A public account has been set up at the Ballarat branch of the Bendigo Bank for donations.

Mr Wilkie said the City of Ballarat has agreed to work with him to examine ways to refill the lake in the quickest possible time.