With Spring here and the weather warming, Coliban Water is encouraging local residents and those from further afield to enjoy the recreational areas at its catchment reservoirs.
A range of new signage is now on display at Upper Coliban, Lauriston and Malmsbury reservoirs which include regulatory, interpretative and way-finding signs. Signage at Barkers Creek Reservoir will be installed shortly.
“The previous signage was quite outdated and it wasn’t clear what visitors were and weren’t allowed to do when they visited the area,” Acting Manager Community Operations Leon Stackpole said.
“A number of new signs have been mounted on recycled timber and provide a fresh and consistent look for the Coliban reservoirs. We hope visitors will find them helpful.”
The signage includes new ‘entrance’ signs with a unique image of the storage in the background, location maps and a range of green, orange and red symbols which help visitors to distinguish activities by either ‘Do’, ‘Please’ or ‘No’.
“Our Reservoir Keepers have had positive feedback about the signage so far. It’s been a seamless addition to the reservoirs,” said Mr Stackpole.
Fishing areas are also signposted for drivers at Premier Mine Road at Upper Coliban Reservoir, and at Shepherds Hill Road at Lauriston Reservoir.
At Barkers Creek Reservoir, new signage will be installed in coming months at the main carpark and recreation area, and will outline the local history including the construction of the reservoir in 1868.
The area is described as having been gripped by ‘fruit fever’ rather than ‘gold fever’ during that time, and yield from local orchards was boosted by the important water source. Harcourt apples gained an international reputation after being exported to England in the 1880s.
A range of heritage objects on display at Barkers Creek will soon have an accompanying sign too – describing the original sluice valves (giant taps), the tower and the original operation for water flow.
A copy of the ‘Discover Our Reservoirs’ brochure is available on online here. More information about the history of our water is also available online here.
Last updated on 08 Jul 2019