General News
17 February, 2026
Not us! Parks Victoria passes on lake fire prevention work
THE manager of Lake Boort has handballed fire risk assessment at the weed-infested reserve to Forest Fire Management Victoria.
Parks Victoria has copped criticism from Boort residents for their maintenance of the wetlands lake with demands its sends representatives to future meetings discussing a Department of Premier and Cabinet plan for the lake.
Department officials last week were told the lake reserve was a fire risk and poorly maintained.
But Parks Victoria regional operations manager Jade Harris told the Loddon Herald on Monday: “Parks Victoria rangers have completed a range of works at Lake Boort over the last year, including new entry signage, removing rubbish, fencing repairs, wheel cactus treatment and blue green algae monitoring.
“We also contributed to joint monitoring and compliance efforts over the duck shooting season. Similar maintenance work will be done in 2026.”
But Parks Victoria said Questions about fire risk and mitigation should be directed to FFMV.
Under the department’s plans to preserve the lake’s Aboriginal scar trees, there would be bans on duck hunting, vehicles, boats and other activities.
Last week’s Boort Tourism and Development Committee meeting was told the department was gathering evidence on impacts to Aboriginal heritage at the lake.
The department’s presentation comes as Aboriginal elder Gary Murray has lodged a bid for Commonwealth intervention banning duck hunting at Lake Boort from this season.
Submission to the application were to close last Thursday but have been extended to today.
“The Heritage Division of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water have now confirmed an extension for all submissions for the Section 10 report, for Lake Boort,” said Compass Heritage Services director and archaeologist Edward East.
Loddon Shire Council is preparing a submission opposing the duck shooting ban.
Murray Plains MP Peter Walsh has also backed opposition to the prohibition on duck shooting and limiting use and access to Lake Boort.
“Peter Walsh and certain members of Loddon council love to promote their personal choice of recreation. Yet most Victorians – especially regional – loathe it. In fact many are outright disadvantaged by it,” according to Regional Victorians Opposed to Duck Shooting. The group’s Kerrie Allen said: “It’s not just our native birds in the line of fire. Families ought think twice before heading out to Victoria’s public waterways between March and June. Over half the state’s public wet area is open to folks with firearms to shoot little birds.”
Mr Murray’s application has been backed by Dja Dja Wurrung.
Read More: Berrimal, Boort