There are hopes that major repairs can be undertaken at the Millicent swimming lake and the public can have access to it for much of the upcoming summer season.

Wattle Range Council determined the man-made lake was leaking massive amounts of water from the start of this calendar year.

Preliminary investigations indicated the probable need for major repairs to the 53-year-old structure and so $600,000 was set aside in the 2023/24 budget for these works.

Engineering services director Peter Halton said these investigations were drawing to a close and council was close to determining the source of the leaks.

He said the investigations began in earnest after the lake was drained at the end of the swimming season at Easter.

Mr Halton said there were no sink holes causing this problem.

“We put cameras up the pipe network and found one localised crack,” Mr Halton said.

“We did not think this would leak much water.

“We are also checking the operation of the one-way value which fills the lake.

“These valves can be subject to fatigue and failure and we have not finished this investigation.”

Mr Halton said there was no doubt that significant cracking in the floor of the lake was the main source of the leaks.

He said the floor had been patched over several times, it had reached its end-of-life and the council had two options.

“We could engage a contractor to re-surface the whole floor with bitumen as was done in 2010,” Mr Halton said.

“This work would cost in the range of $125,000-$150,000 and would need to be done every 10 years.

“An alternative would be for Millicent to do what Naracoorte has done with their swimming like and that is to concrete the floor.

“This would last for up to 50 years and would cost around $400,000-$500,000.

“There are other benefits to having a concrete floor.

“We will be presenting a report to the September council meeting.

“One of the factors determining how much swimming time will be available this summer is the availability of contractors.”

While the upgrade is under way, Mr Halton said he was examining the possibility of improving access for people with mobility issues.

He said additional rails could be installed at the Park Terrace end of the lake.

Mr Halton said he hoped the lake would be used over summer for learn-to-swim classes and the annual Millicent High School swimming carnival.