Pyrenees Shire Council will this Tuesday consider a consultative report to determine the best course of action for the future of the Beaufort Lake.
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Council has resolved to develop an action plan as it determines the importance of the site for the township.
A community consultation session was held in August last year to provide feedback for possible resolutions return the lake, which is almost dry, back to its former state.
A report by council has, among other options, considered deepening the site to ensure that the evaporation of the lake would take longer.
The lake covers 14.27 hectares with an average depth of 1.8 metres, giving it a 260 megalitre capacity and when full, is used for boating, water skiing, fishing, rowing and swimming.
“With only a minimal amount of water level decrease the lake’s usability for certain activities is compromised,” the report said.
“The first two activities to be compromised are rowing and water skiing.
“Initial costings for deepening the current water ski area only to meet minimum depth requirements have been calculated to be between $250,000 and $350,000. This is based on moving approximately 23,000 cubic metres of material.”
Sourcing water from other locations to keep the lake full are also mentioned through community feedback, with options of capturing storm water from the Beaufort township, sourcing an appropriate bore, utilising water from other reservoirs within the greater Beaufort area, utilising treated water from sewerage treatment plant or utilising mine water from old mine shafts within the greater Beaufort area all to be discussed.
Co-owner of Beaufort bed and breakfast establishment Mureybet Maurice Barwick said the site is crucial to the township.
“I wouldn’t know of anyone in Beaufort who wouldn’t have an interest in the lake,” Mr Barwick said.
“The relevance of the lake is that it’s the centrepiece of the town.
Mr Barwick said the lake was dry during the drought of the mid-2000s before filling up again in 2011-12.