Recreational fishers and boaters can enjoy upgraded facilities at Cairn Curran Reservoir’s Picnic Point thanks to the Victorian Government’s reinvestment of recreational fishing and boating licence fees into improvements at the popular spot.
Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards MP and Member for Ripon Martha Haylett MP said boat ramp improvements have been completed thanks to a $112,700 Structural Maintenance Grant through the Government’s Better Boating Fund, while a Recreational Fishing Grant to the tune of $50,000 along with $74,000 funding from waterway manager Goulburn Murray Water had been put toward building a new all-abilities amenities block.
Located between Bendigo and Maryborough, Cairn Curran is a well-loved recreational fishing and boating destination for central Victorians and visitors from further afield. Picnic Point offers access to the western shore of the reservoir, off Joyces Creek-Baringhup Road.
Cairn Curran has benefitted from record stocking in recent years by the Victorian Fisheries Authority and scored a whopping 450,000 native fish in 2023-24 including 250,000 Murray cod – its most ever in a single year.
The new concrete boat ramp has been complemented by a resurfaced carpark, measures to reduce erosion alongside the ramp to stop ruts and potholes, and new signage to provide valuable information for boaters.
The adjacent amenities block is a self-composting, zero discharge facility featuring two unisex cubicles and a third big enough to be accessed by people in wheelchairs.
The area was closed for several weeks to allow contractors to conduct the works but has now re-opened and is ready to go.
Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards said “Cairn Curran is a go-to local fishing or boating spot for many people in our region, so having accessible amenities here makes spending a day in the great outdoors easier for everyone.”
GMW Manager Storage Operations South Paul Beard said “We want everyone to be able to enjoy our lakes, dams, and reservoirs, so it’s great we now have accessible amenities at both Picnic Point to Cairn Curran’s west, and Woolshed Bay to its east.”
