Eppalock overflow

WATER has flowed down the Lake Eppalock spillway for the first time since 1996.Goulburn-Murray Water’s predictions in July that the lake was unlikely to fill this year were proven wrong when more than 100mm of rain fell over the weekend.Tourists have flocked back to the lake to see the site, including many who don’t remember seeing it so full.Goulburn-Murray Water acting manager of water resources Mark Bailey said that before heavy rain in August and September he had given it just a 10 per cent chance of spilling.“Ultimately that 10 per cent chance has been realised,” he said.“Eppalock can fill and spill again.“I haven’t heard of any flooding around the lake area yet but there’s some major flood warnings downstream.”Lakeshore Caravan Park owner Alec Sutherland said the water rose quickly overnight but he was thrilled to see Lake Eppalock back to its former glory after more than a decade of severe drought.“The water moved up the banks 50ft (15 metres) and rose about four-and-a-half-foot (1.35 metres) deep,” he said.“It just did not stop raining.“We need it to rain but we need a break for a little while now. It’s pretty wet down here now.”Visitors at the Lake were amazed including many children who had never seen the lake anywhere near full.It was a sight to behold for Axedale’s Greg Westhead who moved back to the area this year.“We live just down the road on the Campaspe and it’s rising above its banks,” he said.“Its been so long since it was anything like this.”Stuart McKenzie moved to the area six years ago and has never seen the lake spill.Former local and now Northcote woman Stacey Macdonald made a visit to the lake and said it was great to see the water overflowing once again.Goulburn-Murray Water have also let water spill over Cairn Curran Reservoir.After reaching 99.1 per cent capacity last week, Mr Bailey said the reservoir received some of its highest inflows after rain this weekend.“We’ve been using the spillway gates to control the releases and keep it as full as possible,” he said.“Water flows into the Loddon downstream and flows through Laanecoorie. Its been going through at very high rates.”