Gippsland Coastal Board - Gippsland Lakes

GIPPSLAND LAKES

Photo: Gippsland Lakes The Gippsland Lakes are one of Victoria's major environmental and tourism destinations.

Spanning an area of 340km², the Lakes form the largest navigable network of inland waterways in Australia.

The Lakes are of great environmental importance, and contain a number of internationally significant wetlands.

As a major tourism and recreation destination, the Lakes provide enormous economic benefits to the Gippsland region.

PROTECTING THE HEALTH OF THE LAKES
The ongoing health of the Gippsland Lakes is paramount for the environmental, economic and social prosperity of the region.

In 2001, the CSIRO Gippsland Lakes Environmental Study found that the Gippsland Lakes were under threat from a variety of human impacts.

Over time, increased levels of pollution from nutrients and sediments, have steadily affected the water quality and overall health of the Lakes, as have reduced water flows and increased salinity.

The CSIRO's study showed that immediate change was necessary to prevent further degradation of the Lakes.

The State Government appointed the Gippsland Lakes and Catchment Taskforce in 2001 to develop an action plan.

The Taskforce released the Gippsland Lakes Future Directions and Action Plan in 2002, which aims to reduce pollution of the Lakes by 40 per cent by 2022.

Find out more about the Future Directions and Actions Plan and the projects under way
Find out how you can help
Find out more about blue-green algae
Find out more about the CSIRO research
Find out more about the boat sewage pump-out network
Find out more about erosion
Find out more about the Gippsland Lakes Coastal Action Plan

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