31 August 2015

Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Primary Industries and Water

Lake Dulverton to brim with opportunities

The Hodgman Liberal Government is proud of Tasmania’s trout fishery and today we are delivering on our commitment to increase fresh water angling in Tasmania’s south.

We are investing $200,000 over three years in targeted projects from Oatlands to the Huon to get even more freshwater anglers hooked in the south.

Every year around 28,000 licenced anglers cast a line in our trout fishery, including more than 6,000 anglers from interstate and overseas.

This is not only a great recreational pursuit for families and dedicated anglers, it is also a major economic and tourism boon for our state. Tasmania’s recreational freshwater fishery is estimated to generate $94 million in economic activity, from direct expenditure through to boat sales, fishing tackle and the like.

We want to increase the lure of the fishery, particularly in Tasmania’s south where there is a huge opportunity for increased participation. While over half of the Tasmanian population lives in the south, only one third of freshwater licences are sold to those in the region.

We believe we can increase this with targeted investment in projects including:

• Developing a trophy trout fishery in Lake Dulverton – the Inland Fisheries Service in partnership with the Southern Midlands Council will increase water levels in the 51 hectare lake, initially with water purchased from the Midlands Water Scheme and the addition of hundreds of brown trout. This will not only provide additional fishing opportunities, but also deliver significant recreation, tourism and economic development outcomes in Oatlands and the surrounding region.
• Derwent Anglers Access – the highly successful Derwent Anglers Access Project will be expanded with more access sites developed for the launching of canoes and float boats plus improved riverbank access along the Derwent River.
• Southern Lake Fishery Feasibility – A feasibility study will look into the potential for a new dedicated lake fishery in the Huon/Geeveston area.

Naturally, these projects complement our already wonderful river and lake fisheries in the south of the State, which are managed and constantly improved by the Inland Fisheries Service such as the recent angler access projects for the Huon and Tyenna Rivers and stocking of Craigbourne Dam, to name just a few.

I want to thank the Inland Fisheries Service and the Southern Midlands Council for their work particularly in establishing the partnership to ensure water levels within Lake Dulverton are maintained, which will not only increase angler participation, but drive economic activity in the local region.

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