Surveying conducted by the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority has shown a diverse fish population in the waters of Mount Cole Creek, suggesting the site may receive environmental water flows in the near future.
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The Wimmera Catchment Management Authority used electrofishing and netting techniques to conduct the surveys, which found southern pygmy perch, western crayfish, obscure galaxis and carp gudgeon inhabiting the water.
This comes after residents and environmental groups advocated for action to save the creek - following the expansion of Mount Cole Reservoir in 1986.
Wimmera Catchment Management Authority Chief executive David Brennan said finding the native fish proved the importance of preserving its waters.
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"If we can have a healthy fish population up there, when flooding does occur that means that those native fish can all start to make their way down the rest of the Wimmera River," he said.
"I think water is the best outcome for the creek and we do know that if we have the flexibility to release environmental water that would certainly secure those native species we have mentioned."
The group has been in talks with GWMWater and local landholders as to how to progress with the project.
Mr Brennan said the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority would consider the results of the survey and provide information on what the return of environmental water to the creek would look like in 'a few months'.
"I am hoping that this will certainly allow our planning to be streamlined. Talks are going very well with GWMWater and the local community," he said.
"This is really about the planning stage and from our perspective it is looking really positive. It demonstrates that there will be high value in delivering environmental water to the creek."
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