8 July, 2026
February is fast becoming Goulburn Valley Water’s favourite time of year after it secured Victorian Fisheries Authority funding for significant enhancements to the Dunyak Moira catch-and-release fishing ponds site at Merrigum.
Last February the former water treatment site, now home to Burnanga Indigenous Fishing Club, received $24,000 in funding for the addition of three new fishing platforms to the site and last month it received confirming of a $108,610 injection of funds for other improvements.
Since opening in October 2023 the site has undergone significant work to create one of the state’s most unique catch and release fishing sites. Goulburn Valley Water Acting Managing Director Daniel Flanagan said the investment recognised both the success and potential of the site.
“This funding allows us to build on the momentum of Dunyak Moira and continue transforming it into a place where recreation, education, culture and environmental stewardship come together,” Mr Flanagan said.
“The Victorian Fisheries Authority has been a strong supporter of this project from the outset, and this latest grant will help ensure the site is more accessible, informative and sustainable for years to come.”
Dunyak Moira - meaning fishing lake in Yorta Yorta language - has welcomed thousands of visitors and continues to grow as a recreational, environmental and cultural hub.
The funding will deliver a range of key improvements:
-Construction of an education and picnic shelter.
-Upgraded and informative signage.
-And a wheelchair-friendly accessibility path linking the car park to the 50 megalitre lagoon and its accessible fishing platform.
The project will also incorporate Burnanga artwork, celebrating the strong partnership between Goulburn Valley Water and the Burnanga Indigenous Fishing Club.
Once unused water storages at the Merrigum Water Treatment Plant, the 50 ML and 12.5 ML ponds sat empty for more than 20 years after local water supply was reconfigured via pipeline.
Since works began in mid-2021, the storages have been rehabilitated, stocked with native fish and revegetated, with the lakes filled in April 2022. Murray cod have bred successfully at the site, duck nesting boxes have produced 48 clutches, and around 8,000 plants have been established across the area.
For more about Dunyak Moira visit www.watermatters.gvwater.vic.gov.au/dunyak-moira_
