The move has been welcomed by State Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed, who had previously called on Commonwealth and Victorian environmental water holders to allocate water to the lake.
Ms Sheed met with Acting Victorian Water Minister Richard Wynne last month to discuss the deterioration of the popular recreational site.
Following the decommissioning of the lake as a water storage facility for Goulburn-Murray Water's Connections project in 2019, the community fears the dropping water level would destroy the health of the lake and result in a mass fish kill.
“I’m pleased that as a result of our meeting last month, Minister Wynne has asked the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning to develop a Future Use Management Plan for Greens Lake, which will work with Traditional Owners, local communities and relevant agencies,” Ms Sheed said.
She said the plan would assess the environmental, cultural and recreational values of the lake to determine how it is best managed long-term.
“It will also highlight the threats to these values and how they can be avoided so we can continue to enjoy the lake long into the future.
“This is an important step to help restore the health of the lake that has great cultural, environmental and social significance for our community.”
Ms Sheed urged the environmental water holders to continue to monitor the lake and provide environmental water if a fish kill is imminent.
“Neither the Commonwealth nor the Victorian environmental water holders were concerned about an immediate need for environmental water to Greens Lake, however the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder said it would consider water delivery, should new evidence or advice on the environmental need for water at Greens Lake be presented.
“We hope that this new plan will demonstrate the environmental need for water in the lake and convince the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder to allocate some environmental water to revive the lake.”
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