6 January
A wheelchair accessible pontoon has been constructed at Goulburn Valley Water’s (GVW) Dunyak Moira fishing ponds just in time for extended opening hours during the school holidays.
GVW installed the pontoon in partnership with Burnanga Indigenous Fishing Club, and with a grant from the Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).
It is the latest addition to the 12-month-old community facility, which is located at Merrigum’s decommissioned Water Treatment Plant.
Dunyak Moira will be open every day of the school holidays during January, from 7am until 8pm. Hours have been extended to give the community more opportunity to enjoy the facility – it’s ideal for fishing, as well as walks and picnics.
Goulburn Valley Water Managing Director Dr Steve Capewell said the accessibility improvements at Dunyak Moira were a natural progression in the development of the site.
“From day one everyone involved in this project has been looking at different ways of expanding the appeal of the facility to different individuals and organisations.
“This is another step toward Dunyak Moira becoming an even greater drawcard for people who have an interest in not only fishing, but in the environment, sustainability, well-being, and community activation,” he said.
Dunyak Moira, which is Yorta Yorta for fishing lake, is home to 12.5 and 50 megalitre ponds. Burnanga Indigenous Fishing Club president, Corey Walker, said the ponds had become hugely popular with not only regional anglers, and were also attracting fishing enthusiasts across Australia.
“Not only do we have an increasing number of fish in the lagoons, but the recent addition of the wheelchair friendly pontoon to the large pond has made the site even more attractive and accessible to people” he said.
Mr Walker said the fish hadn’t been forgotten either, with new root balls placed in the small pond for habitat, with the support of Greater Shepparton City Council.
Please remember that the Dunyak Moira ponds are for catch and release fishing only. Users are also encouraged to have a recreational fishing licence.
Community volunteers operate on a roster system to open and close the gates of the facility and users are asked to be patient if the facility isn’t open exactly on advertised times.