WITH school holidays in action, Goulburn–Murray Water (GMW) is urging visitors to prioritise safety when enjoying Eildon and the region's other lakes, dams, and waterways.
With over 50,000 people visiting GMW storages during Easter last year, GMW acting Water Storage Services general manager Paul Beard is encouraging visitors to take simple steps to ensure their safety and that of others.
According to Beard, visitors should take a mate, wear a life jacket, and adhere to speed limits if heading out on the water.
It's also important to check conditions and water levels before launching a boat and to be mindful of submerged hazards.
Visitors should also familiarize themselves with the recreational by–law that governs the land and waterways GMW manages.
The by–law includes various rules regarding littering, camping, campfires, use of facilities, and the protection of flora and fauna, which aim to maintain water quality and conserve the environment.
Beard emphasized that GMW wants to ensure that their storages remain great places to visit and that to do so people need to follow the recreational by–law.
He added that there are no rubbish services available in GMW–managed recreation areas, so visitors must take their rubbish with them when they leave.
Even though the weather is cooling down a bit, campfires can still easily get out of hand, so anyone planning on lighting one must first learn where they are allowed to do so and how they are required to manage it.
A campfire should never be unsupervised, and the coals should be cool to touch before anyone leaves.
