Blue Rock Lake is a multi-use storage that supplies raw drinking water to Gippsland Water for the Latrobe Valley, raw water for power station cooling towers, environmental flows in the
Latrobe River system and water for irrigation purposes. The Lake and catchment are subject to the Safe Drinking Water Act 2003.
The current rules were put in place when the reservoir was first constructed due to the new banks instability and the risk of erosion. In the early years, the lake had no riparian vegetation at the lake ’s edges. It was assessed that by reducing the speed and size of vessels would reduce the risk of erosion and allow the lake banks to stabilise and riparian vegetation to establish. Erosion also causes turbidity and a reduction in water quality. There is now well developed vegetation at Blue Rock Lake including a 30 metre filtration zone so faster speeds are no longer seen as a risk.
The original rules were not put in place for safety reasons, but to reduce erosion and to protect drinking water quality.
SRW has conducted a workshop with relevant stakeholders to assess the risks of changing the current rules. SRW also commissioned a risk assessment on the potential impacts on drinking water quality. Stakeholders also confirmed a previous risk assessment conducted in 2009 that water skiing and personal water craft use on the lake proposed an unacceptable risk to water quality, mainly due to the risks involved in fuelling of these craft on or near the water.
The need for change has been driven by public demand as the lake is an important part of the Victorian inland recreational fishing network and many clubs and angling groups have approached Southern Rural Water to request changes that would allow more vessels to access the facility. The resultant proposed rule changes are reflective of extensive consultation with angling clubs, interested members of the public, local council and other stakeholders.
Further to this, the Victorian Go vernment is investing $35 million under its ‘Target One
Million’ plan to promote and expand recreational fishing in Victoria and increase the number of recreational fishers to one million by 2020. Under the plan, the government has made an election commitment to remove horsepower and boat length restrictions at Blue Rock Lake.
Today, very few boats comply with our current boating restrictions, effectively prohibiting many anglers (and others) from using the lake. Revising the rules will not increase the risk to water quality, but will boost tourism in the local community.
Specifically banning personal water craft and water skiing/wake boarding is a requirement for water quality protection.

To implement the government’s election commitment under its Target One Million plan,
SRW is proposing the following:
Maximum speed
Current restrictions
5 knots.
No go zones No boating in areas around
SRW infrastructure (113.2 in appendix)
Maximum output 10Hp (7.5Kw)
Maximum boat length 4.3m
Proposed restrictions
No limit except in designated safety zones (5 knots).
No boating in areas around
SRW infrastructure (113.2 in appendix)
No limit
No limit
Water skiing and personal watercraft
Not specifically mentioned Prohibited
113.1. Five (5) knot speed restriction zone for the purposes of Clause 7.
The whole of the waters of Blue Rock Lake except in the prohibited areas are subject to a speed restriction of five (5) knots.
113.2. Areas prohibited to vessels for the purposes of Clause 9.
The waters of Blue Rock Lake:
(a) between the dam wall and a line approximately 200 metres to the north-west between two beacons inscribed ‘Stop’ and ‘Prohibited Water beyond this Point’ located on opposite shores of the lake; and north-west of the dam wall
(b) extending approximately 60 metres from the edge of the water for the time being in a swimming area approximately 130 metres wide situated adjacent to the toilet block within the Old Tanjil Road Recreational Area on the western shore of the lake, the boundaries of the swimming area being marked by signs and red buoys are prohibited to vessels.
113.3. Prohibition of vessels with engines for the purposes of Clause 10.
The whole of the waters of Blue Rock Lake are prohibited to vessels with engines used for propulsion where the engines are capable of exceeding 7.5 kilowatts developed power.

113.4. Prohibition of specific activities for the purposes of Clause 12.
The whole of the waters of Blue Rock Lake are prohibited to vessels with engines used for propulsion or sailing vessels which have an overall length exceeding 4.3 metres.
113.1. Areas where Water-skiers are prohibited for the purpose of Clause 8
The whole of the waters of Blue Rock Lake are prohibited to water-skiers and personal water craft.
113.2. Areas prohibited to vessels for the purposes of Clause 9.
The waters of Blue Rock Lake:
(a) between the dam wall and a line approximately 200 metres to the north-west between two beacons inscribed ‘Stop’ and ‘Prohibited Water beyond this Point’ located on opposite shores of the lake; and north-west of the dam wall
(b) extending approximately 60 metres from the edge of the water for the time being in a swimming area approximately 130 metres wide situated adjacent to the toilet block within the Old Tanjil Road Recreational Area on the western shore of the lake, the boundaries of the swimming area being marked by signs and red buoys
are prohibited to vessels.
113.3 Five (5) knot speed restriction zone for the purposes of Clause 7.
The area of Blue Rock Lake North and East of two points roughly at the ends of: Blue
Rock Rd to the South East and Hunts Rd to the North East. Both points marked with yellow 5 knot signs and yellow 5 knot buoys variously along the line between the points. As indicated on map below.
The schedules listed above are further to all state inland waterway rules that are detailed in the guide to vessel operating and zoning rules for Victorian waterways .