TO celebrate the 2014 opening of the trout fishing season in Victoria’s rivers, the Eildon community and Victorian Government will once again host the Goulburn Fishing Festival on September 5 and 6.
Nationals Member for Benalla Bill Sykes said the festival aimed to promote the wide range of freshwater fishing opportunities in the district, including the Goulburn River, the scenic Eildon Pondage and the iconic Lake Eildon.
“This is the third consecutive year of the festival, which is supported by the Victorian Coalition Government’s $16 million Recreational Fishing Initiative,” Dr Sykes said.
“The Coalition Government recognises the social and economic contribution that recreational fishing makes to Victoria and we want to promote our state’s great fishing opportunities to the community and visitors.”
Highlights of this year’s festival include:
• Fireworks on the Friday night;
• The release of trout into the Eildon Pondage on the Saturday;
• Local experts providing advice about fishing for trout, redfin and native fish;
• Free fly fishing lessons;
• Children’s entertainment including face painting and a jumping castle;
• Fishing tackle and local produce displays; and
• Cooking demonstrations
Dr Sykes said the focal point of the festival were the free guided tours of Fisheries Victoria’s hatchery at Snobs Creek, where fish are grown for the statewide stocking program.
“On Saturday, guided tours of the Snobs Creek fish hatchery will depart hourly from the Eildon Community Centre,” Dr Sykes said.
“Come along and see how we grow brown trout, rainbow trout, Chinook salmon, Murray cod and the endangered Macquarie perch and trout cod.
“The hatchery is one of Australia’s most diverse and the free tours are a rare opportunity to get behind the scenes and understand how it’s all done.”
As well as promoting recreational fishing and providing fisheries education, the Coalition’s Recreational Fishing Initiative is also funding boating facility upgrades, more fish stockings, the construction of fish cleaning tables, the installation of fishing reefs into bays and inlets and increased fisheries education across the state.
State Liberal Member of Parliament, Cindy McLeish said, “Fishing is a healthy outdoor activity for the entire family and contributes significantly to regional communities, which is why we are investing in projects like this.
“I look forward to being a part of the activities at this year’s Goulburn Fishing Festival and opening the festival with Bill Sykes on Friday 5 September at the Eildon Community Centre.”
Dr Sykes concluded, “The Coalition Government has done more to improve recreational fishing in Victoria in three-and-a-half years than the previous Labor government achieved in a decade.”
For more information visit www.depi.vic.gov.au/fishfest
