Loch Sport Foreshore
Starts With You
Loch Sport Foreshore Committee of Management
Crown land is land that remains in government ownership.
Early History
During the 19th century, government sold Crown land to stimulate settlement of Victoria and also identified that certain lands should be kept in public ownership and ‘reserved’ Crown land for public purposes, such as parks, schools and hospitals.
Committees of management operate under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978.
The Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Action appoints committees to manage Crown land reserves for the benefit of the community.
The Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning are the delegate for the Minister and therefore the department represents the ‘land owner’ of the reserve
The land along the Lake Victoria coastal foreshore, highlighted in blue below, was permanently reserved for public purposes in the year 1881. Some of the land is now under the control of the Wellington Shire Council and the remainder is controlled by the State through the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA). The volunteer Committee is appointed by the Minister for Environment to manage and maintain the reserve. This committee maintains the area of DEECA land as a volunteers.
The land in the Gippsland Lakes area was originally used by the Kurnai group of aborigines with white contact starting in the 1840s through some spasmodic and relatively unsuccessful farming and agricultural enterprises.
Land Use
In the early 1950s some of the land abutting the public reserve was subdivided and the town of Loch Sport commenced as a holiday, water sport and fishing destination. Gradually more land was subdivided until the current township was formed. There are approximately 2,800 blocks in the town which limits future development to the township area.
The township has become a vibrant, active community of approximately 1200 permanent residents, many part-time residents and holiday makers with numbers swelling into many thousands during the summer holiday period. Residents, part-time residents and visitors value the flora and fauna in the town, the peace and tranquillity and close contact with native wildlife. Lake Victoria is pivotal to the town as is Lake Reeve and the Ninety Mile Beach across the causeway. The walking tracks in the township are a major attraction and provide access to lakes as well as the attractive scenery and glorious sunsets/sunrises.
The coastal foreshore of Lake Victoria is ever-changing; at the mercy of wind, water level changes and shifting sands. Erosion is a serious threat to the reserve, public safety, amenity, native habitats, facilities and adjacent public property. Historically, groynes have been built to effectively alleviate the impact of erosion. Bush fire is another threat to the reserve and town.
Facilities and Use
The facilities on the reserve include a series of walking tracks and information / directional signs. Boat ramps, public toilets and car parks are provided and maintained by Wellington Shire. A vendor is licensed to provide food and beverages at the Seagull Drive boat ramp at peak times and another at Loch Sport Boat ramp providing Kayak & SUP hire.
Vehicles, fires, drones, firearms, camping, private structures, removal of native vegetation and dumping of rubbish are not permitted in the reserve. Vehicles are only permitted in designated car parks and on boat ramps.
Current users
The reserve is used by walkers, bike riders, bird watchers, beach goers, boat parking and swimmers. Wildlife and birds are abundant and make use of the area. Residents and visitors use the area all year but numbers increase dramatically at holiday times, particularly in the summer.
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