Water levels at Lake Wendouree will be maintained at a depth of between 160 and 158cm to ensure rowing course dredging continues over winter months.

The dredge cannot operate when the lake is overfull, and regulating the lake level is necessary to ensure dredging can be completed in time for the summer rowing season.

Progress in the dredging was delayed in January and February due to the impact of flooding rains and lower evaporation rates caused by below- average summer temperatures.

The lake is currently approximately 4 cm below full, or 166cm in depth, following recent rain.

With negligible evaporation and higher rainfall averages in coming months, maintaining levels at between 160 and158 cm, or 10-12cm below full, will ensure that the dredging can proceed without interruption.

City of Ballarat Director Jeff Pulford said that depth is suitable for all user groups and the community can be confident that the lake will have enough water for the coming spring, summer and autumn.

“The buffer of 10 to 12cm will ensure the lake can cope with storm events which rapidly fill the lake and inhibit the ability of the dredger to operate,” Mr Pulford said.

At the end of the winter season, the lake will be returned to its full state through the closure of the outflow valve, allowing seasonal rains to top up water levels. “Supplementary supplies are available from three storm water diversion schemes and recycled water is available from the North Ballarat Waste Water Treatment Plant.”

Dredging of the rowing course involves an excavator leading the way to loosen the lake bed, closely followed by the floating dredge that will collects the sediment and pumps it via pipelines to the designated reed bed areas for creation of new shallow wetlands.

The work involves deepening the rowing course by 50 cm and depositing the sediments within two of the existing reed beds to create permanent shallow wetlands.

Once the dredging project is complete, Ballarat will once again have a national standard  rowing course available for use by local and regional rowing clubs and aquatic groups.