The Millicent swimming lake is facing a lengthy period of closure and a significant repair bill.

However, the exact cause of a major leak at the Millicent swimming lake has yet to be found and Wattle Range Council engineering services director Peter Halton told the May monthly council meeting that “it was more than likely” there would be a delay in the reopening of the lake for the 2023/24 swimming season.

Mr Halton said dry weather was needed to fully investigate the problem and then carry out repairs.

According to Mr Halton, a council employee and licensed diver had found the likely cause of the leak when it was full.

He said Wattle Range staff would be reaching out for advice from their counterparts at Naracoorte Lucindale Council as Naracoorte also had a swimming lake which had faced problems some years ago.

Due to the presence of brittle concrete, Mr Halton said it may be necessary to re-construct the shell and joint points and then re-surface it.

Wattle Range Council chief executive Ben Gower was at pains to say his council staff had not recommended the man-made Millicent Lake be closed.

The meeting decided to reallocate $132,000 from its budget for the investigation into the cause of the leak and other costs.

The funds had been earmarked in the 2022/23 for lake chlorination works.

Mis-reading of the water meter by council staff over many years had added another complexity.

The leak meant the council had far exceeded its annual water allocation and was facing a State Government penalty of almost $60,000.

Council has also decided to write to Environment Minister Dr Susan Close asking for the penalty to be waived as well as seeking a greater water allocation each year for the lake.

Mr Halton said there had yet to be any contact with Dr Close’s office but council staff had approached the regional office of the Department of Environment and Water on the matter.

Councillor Chris Brodie said he was concerned that chlorinated water had been leaking into the aquifer but Mr Halton said it was at a very low level of chlorine.

Cr Moira Neagle said the lake leakage problems had come at the same time as council was considering the erection of a new office and closing the Millicent saleyards.

Opened in 1969, there have been a number of other occasions in the past 54 years when leakage has occurred at the Millicent swimming lake and major repairs were needed.