Week 4 – A walk around Green Lake

It’s easy seeing Green

10km south east of Horsham

Distance about 5km

Time leisurely 1 hour 30 minutes with lots of photo stops

In 10 words : Different view of the lake, its residents and its charm

NOTE – At no time did I touch or enter the water.

We have all seen it, stopped at it or event dipped out toes in its refreshing water.

Ten minutes southeast of Horsham, it is one of the most visible lakes along the highway.

It has a beach, shady trees and toilets making it a popular pitstop for Victoria – South Australia travellers. It’s also a local playground for swimming, sailing, skiing, fishing and yabbying.

It is Green Lake. Originally a periodically filled swamp that was fed by two local creeks, In 1932 it was dammed at one end and connected to the Wimmera Mallee channel system.

Right now it is a bit sad.

This little 170ha circle of life and water sports is only one third full and the shallow waters that are there are riddled with blue green algae.

This little 170ha circle of life and water sports is only one third full and the shallow waters that are there are riddled with blue green algae.

Can’t swim, can’t fish, can’t paddle or go yabbying but you can walk around it and enjoy its peace – just stay away from the water!.

And that is just what I did this morning. Sunrise was due at 6.38am making 6.15am a perfect start.

Starting near the lonely boat ramp, I head south along the lake and its wider than usual beach.

It’s dawn and most of the world is still asleep – except for cars.  Passing traffic hums constantly but instead of being a disappointing interruption it somehow manages to disappear into the background.

Today’s the sky is a natural wash of pale denim and apricot, as the sun starts climbing up towards the beautiful Grampians’ Gariwerd dominated horizon.

It’s 12 degrees, there is hardly a breath of wind and tiny little waves of dark blue water, gently poke at fairyfloss foam sitting on the bank.

Although potentially a toxic indication of just how green this lake is feeling, the morning light does it amazing justice.

Another obvious addition along our wider lake shore is dried refuse from it bed. This natural rubbish resembles both shredded paper and discarded carpet underlay.

Dead trees along the edge are also coated in a shaggy layer of ‘tassles’ that are a cross between the end of a beach towel and dreadlocks.

The water might be toxic but the birds are happy. Magpie Larks, plovers, magpies, a couple galahs, crows and ducks all seem to scream a welcoming hello.

I hear a crack in a tree up the bank. A magpie has just moved on a branch but that’s how still and quiet it is. The same thing happens when a rabbit scarpers into the grass.

Of course I am not the only human around here. There are car and bike wheel tracks all the way around and plenty of discarded beer bottles poking out of the sand.

About half an hour in and the sunrise is pretty textbook crazy.

It just lights up the whole world. Bird tracks take on artistic formations, the reflection shoots across the water, the rocks along the bank turn burnt orange and tiny crimson weeds become almost transparent.

And then, when I get to the southern end of the lake everything changes. It is like the light has been turned out and we need to hear some scary music.

There are heaps more trees than before and quite a few of them look to have been drowned in the damming process. They stand like skeletons in the shallow water. Stuck and sad.

I also notice a squadron of pelicans, with a few ducks and other waterbirds thrown in, sitting on an old stump or structure about 50 metres out onto the lake.

After a while the pelicans are standing in a perfect line – you can almost hear the leader saying – ready… set…. go.

Here I am busy looking at the water when suddenly I notice my beach has split by a creek. I could get my new hiking boots wet or head into that interesting bush and find a spot to cross.

The bush wins and off I head to find a few billabongs or old swamp areas surrounded by healthy looking eucalypts.

The trickle of water quickly ends and I cross at the cracked creek bed and make my way back to the lake edge. There are a lot of rocks here – possibly brought in to dam the swamp all those years ago, and I happily find my first kangaroo tracks.

There are some great dead tree reflections to be had as the sun gets to full throttle and I find what almost looks like a cave, probably more undermining with the waves but pretty exciting all the same.

Three dead fish – who have been posing with that last gasp look for some time – provide the first clue that this is a popular fishing spot. A hare shows another sign of life and I also see some swans floating just off the shore.

At the main beach, the speed limit buoys are on strike – they don’t seem to have enough water to float and with no boats they are having a lie down.

It’s a heat wave today and in good years this place would be a buzz with boat but the only splash action are a few ducks, making quick take offs.

But don’t write off Green Lake – it is a fantastic short walk in the cool of the day and while the algae means you must stay away from the water – you can still enjoy its blue waters…from a distance.