A full five-month swimming season is anticipated over the 2024/25 period according to senior staff of Wattle Range Council.


Although the dates have yet to be posted online, it is customary for the man-made lake to be open between November 1 and March 31.


Use of the lake was seriously affected over the 2023/24 period.


The use of underground water had been miscalculated by council staff and the allowance had been greatly exceeded due to leaks.


As a result, the swimming season was curtailed and the annual Vacswim program for students was cancelled.


Council has earmarked $132,000 in its 2024/25 budget for the base of the lake to be resealed with asphalt as an interim measure in a bid to reduce leakage.


Councillor John Drew raised the readiness of the lake during council’s July monthly meeting in Millicent on Tuesday.


Cr Drew said he had forewarned council staff about the query.


In reply, engineering services director Peter Halton said there had been discussions with the contractors and the asphalt resealing would take place when it was not wet.


Mr Halton said his staff would prepare and repair the base of the lake in readiness for the asphalt resealing by the contractors.


“This will be done well before the start of the (swimming) season,” Mr Halton said.


“The lake should be operational all season.”


However, Mr Halton said this would depend on the amount of water used and whether the allowance would be exceeded.


Cr Emma Castine asked what would happen to the works schedule if there was a wet spring or summer.


In turn, Mr Halton said his crews only needed a couple of dry days to prepare the base for resealing.


The Millicent Swimming Lake was officially opened by then Premier Steele Hall in 1970. Mr Hall died last month at the age of 95.


This prompted some Millicent old-timers to recall that Mr Hall was unceremoniously tossed into the lake at the conclusion of official proceedings.