With the weather beginning to warm up, people are looking for places to cool off or take the boat.
While the primary purpose of Goulburn-Murray Water’s dams and reservoirs is to store water for customers, they also provide some fantastic places for various activities.
That’s why making our storages as visitor friendly as possible — including our recently installed all-abilities amenities at Lake Eildon, Lake Eppalock and Waranga Basin — has been a priority of ours.
We want everyone to have the opportunity to enjoy our storages, but above all, we want everyone to return home safely.
A lot of water safety takes place before you even leave your home.
Before you head off, you should always ensure you have all the necessary safety equipment for your trip, be familiar with the waterway rules of the location you are visiting, check the weather, and tell a friend where you are headed and when you plan to return.
For boaters, it is also important to inspect your vessel to ensure the battery is charged and that there are no leaks or faults. This is particularly important for those who may be using their boats for the first time in several months.
Any issues identified when preparing for a trip out on the water are usually easily addressed, however, the opposite is true if the issues are not dealt with before you launch your vessel.
Boaters should also be mindful when water levels are quite high — as they currently are at many of our storages — that debris is often floating just below the surface. It is not always visible, so ease off the throttle if you are in doubt.
If you are planning on heading to one of our storages, be sure to check our website for blue-green algae warnings first.
Algae blooms become more frequent when the weather heats up, and when they reach a certain level, the water can cause various unpleasant symptoms for people who come into contact with it.
Our storages are tested frequently to determine if blue-green algae warnings need to be issued, however, if you suspect there is blue-green algae in the water it is always best to avoid contact, even if there is no warning in place.
There are plenty of good places to boat and swim at most of our storages, but it is never safe to do these activities near a weir, regulator or in a channel.
When water is flowing through a weir or regulator, it generates a very strong current that can cause people to be caught in them and dragged under.
Even if a channel looks calm, there may be many hazards beneath the surface, such as pipes, drains, rocks, trees and other debris.
Channel conditions can also change rapidly and without warning.
Much of our delivery network is now automated, meaning flume gates can be operated 24/7, without a member of staff having to manually adjust them.
This means people in channels risk getting suddenly caught in a current or even in one of the regulator gates.
The only way to ensure you avoid these dangers is by staying out of channels entirely.
For more information, and to stay safe while out on or by the water at G-MW storages, visit: https://www.g-mwater.com.au/recreation
Check for the latest blue-green algae warnings at: https://www.g-mwater.com.au/bga
Charmaine Quick is Goulburn-Murray Water’s managing director