Council endorses multi-year plan to enhance Blue Waters Lake Reserve

With all the recent rain I have come to the conclusion that I missed my calling as a drainage engineer.

My family members roll their eyes at my ongoing fascination with watching the water flows around Ocean Grove and between our home town, the Surf Coast and Geelong.

I literally run out of the house mid-storm with my umbrella and follow the rushing, gushing streams to see if the drains work as they should.

And yes, I am painfully aware that many don’t – and trust me I have been known to send videos to our City Services Director with a ‘please explain’ – but we must collectively admit Greater Geelong’s drainage system is being sorely tested right now.

With the greatest respect and sympathy to anyone suffering with floodwaters, I don’t mean to be insensitive with my curiosity.

And I am also fully conscious every time I drive to Torquay that Lake Connewarre is supposed to be saltwater, not filled by fresh storm runoff.

But I am completely mesmerised by the movement of the water; watching paddocks transform into lakes – and empathy to all those who unexpectedly spent last weekend at Mt Duneed Estate – and noting the various areas that I always thought were natural waterways, but are right now flexing their muscles as stormwater managers.

Blue Waters Lake in Ocean Grove is one such practical beauty.

As chair of Council’s Sustainability portfolio it was fabulous to see Council endorse a multi-year plan to enhance the natural values of Blue Waters Lake Reserve at our latest meeting on Tuesday night.

Blue Waters Lake Reserve is essentially a drain but it’s also become a unique wetland habitat in Old Ocean Grove.

And I am one of hundreds if not thousands of locals who run around it, take my dog there, walk and admire the birdlife, witnessing the ebb and flow of life and water levels over time.

Special mention at this point to Ned the resident duck who very sadly fell victim only weeks ago to an unknown evening predator.

We shall never know if it was cat, dog or fox but Ned will be sorely missed by all the residents who had grown to love his ugly mug. Vale Ned may you rest in peace.

The master plan for Blue Waters Lake adopted by Council follows positive feedback from the community about its vision and aims.

This plan will guide Council’s investment priorities and the staging of works at Blue Waters Lake Reserve.

Released for public comment in May, a total of 1680 visitors to the project page yielded 200 submissions, with 90 percent of survey respondents stating they were ‘very satisfied’ or ‘somewhat satisfied’ with the draft plan.

On the strength of this feedback received by the project team, there were no changes made to the adopted final plan.

As many local residents would be aware, the seven-hectare reserve supports a mix of native and introduced vegetation and provides habitat for many rare and threatened waterbirds.

It filters pollutants and nutrients from stormwater before it enters the Barwon River, so the lake plays an important role in our town’s drainage network.

It is stunningly picturesque and the banks of the lake play host to many social gatherings for locals, and even for those from outside Ocean Grove who choose to use the reserve as a meeting place with friends and family.

There has been an overwhelming level of support shown by the community to maintain and preserve the natural values of Blue Waters Lake Reserve, to address water quality issues and upgrade the surrounding path to allow access all-year round, and this plan will help us enhance the area’s environmental and recreational features.

Some of the key actions include the staged removal of willows, to be replaced with native trees, interpretive signage, stormwater infrastructure improvements, ongoing weed and revegetation programs, and upgrades to paths, tables and seats.

I look forward to seeing both the ecological and amenity values of Blue Waters Lake Reserve progressively enhanced over the coming years, making it an even more popular space for visitors and, importantly, our wildlife.

And as a nod to Ned, remember that every time it rains it’s a great day for ducks.

Cr Stephanie Asher