Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) has updated its management plan for Lake Buffalo and is encouraging community members to access and read it to understand crucial safety and access information at the popular recreational lake.

GMW said the plan has been developed in accordance with Victoria’s Water (Recreational Area) Regulations 2023 and provides clear operational guidelines for managing recreational activities at Lake Buffalo while minimising impacts on water quality, the environment, cultural heritage values, and GMW assets and operations

It is among plans at 10 water storages which GMW has recently updated after extensive face-to-face and online consultation with councils, agencies, Traditional Owners, local community members and recreational visitors over the past year.

GMW general manager water storage services, Jon McKeown, said the primary role of water storages such as Lake Buffalo is to harvest and store customers' water entitlements, but GMW "know how popular these places are with recreational users”.

GMW said its consultation during the plan's formulation highlighted that Lake Buffalo is hugely important to the local community and provides a wide range of cultural, lifestyle, health, environmental and economic benefits and contributes to the community’s sense of place.

Mr McKeown said key topics raised during consultation and clarified in the Lake Buffalo plan include environmental management, speed zones, key guidance around foreshore access, permitted recreational pursuits, and that camping/caravanning and campfires are not allowed at the lake.

He said the plan also outlines what areas people can access both above and below full water supply level, as well as supports responsible pet owners by allowing dogs at the lake but the dogs must be on a leash or under control at all times and pet owners must clean up after their dogs.

The plan, to be updated every 10 years or as needed, can be viewed https://yoursay.gmwater.com.au/recreational-area-management-plans