Ballarat waterholes a reason to stay this summer

Lakes Learmonth and Burrumbeet have gone from grassy plains to waterholes once more, lifelong Learmonth resident Fon Ryan said.

Mr Ryan has been measuring Lake Learmonth’s water levels for 50 years.

The lake has not been used for water sports since the summer of 2012-2013 however recent rains have replenished languishing water levels.

“Both lakes have had their area covered,” Mr Fon said.

“To me it’s just an interesting succession of changing circumstances.

“When they’re dry they present a difference environment but really, water has far more attraction for most people.”

Lake Burrumbeet has seen a resurgence in water sports, Lake Burrumbeet Caravan Park owner Greg Johns said.

Mr Johns said the park was 50 per cent busier. 

“If they want a boat, there's plenty of boating, there's plenty of fishing, there's a heap of boats out there at the moment,” he said.

“Last year the lake was well down, you couldn't ski on it.”

Creswick is another hot day destination for swimmers with a new beach installed at St George’s Lake as well as historic diving spots at Calambeen Park. 

“St George’s Lake is standing room only on a hot day, people come from Ballarat and everywhere around,” Hepburn Shire councillor Don Henderson said. 

“It’s clear water and it’s unchlorinated and then over the road from there it’s called the Blue Waters.

“It’s very, very clear, all of these places are just remnants of the gold mining era.”

Mr Henderson said a recently opened splash park at Creswick was “the biggest hit since Shakespeare”. 

The splash park, which has a small skate park for young children attached, opened on December 3.

“It seems to run from 9am to 9pm, the families are just flocking there.

“Even older people are running in under the water so it’s a great spot.”

Described by Olympian Frank Beaurepaire as “the best inland natural swimming hole”, Calambeen Park at Creswick is also a swimmers’ staple destination, Mr Henderson said.

“Calambeen Park is an old dredge hole, the Olympic diving team trained there in 1922,” he said.

“The diving tower is going to be refurbished - it’s been controversial for years - now the gates are open and we’re going to refurbish that as soon as Heritage Victoria let us make a decision on what timber to use.”

Other favourite swimming spots include Rokewood Swimming Lagoon at Rokewood and Lake Esmond at Canadian.