LAKE Learmonth is fast becoming known as the lake without water this summer.
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The lake’s water level this week receded below one metre, making it too shallow for motor sports.
The lake used to be popular for water-skiing, fishing and sailing.
Lake Learmonth Caravan Park manager Kevin Davies said his business had suffered.
“It’s quite depressing,” said Mr Davies, who has managed the site for 11 years.
“Our business is 70 per cent down from last year. There’s been no boating, no fishing – you can’t use the lake.”
Last week Mr Davies created a marker in the lake to measure the rapid decline of water.
“We’ve lost 6mm in 10 days,” Mr Davies said.
Former Lake Learmonth Yacht Club treasurer Jon Gumyer said most people had given up on the lake. “Lake Learmonth has really gone down hill,” he said.
“It used to be usable all the time, but the last 20 years have been useless.”
Two years ago a healthy wet season replenished the water levels of the lake.
“The once-in-100-year rains put water in the lake,” Mr Davies said.
“We had between 300 to 400 people lining up at the gate to get in.”
The City of Ballarat has issued a warning on its website that a five knot speed restriction applies to any recreational water vessels on Lake Learmonth.