Tarago Reservoir will open 7am to 5pm daily, with extended hours to 8pm during daylight saving.

The difference between boating and swimming is the amount of contact with the water.

Activities that involve immersion in water (‘primary’ contact), like swimming, pose a greater risk to water quality.

Activities where there is only brief or occasional contact with the water (‘secondary’ contact), like boating, pose less risk. This is because a person is not generally in contact with the water, but may have contact for a brief period.

Tarago Reservoir supports a healthy population of native River Blackfish, as well as a self-sustaining population of brown trout that spawn annually in the upper Tarago River.

The Victorian Fishing Authority is responsible for establishing fishing regulations for Tarago, as well as managing stocking proposals for public waterways via the annual Vic Fish Stock plan.

Please refer to their website for more details on current fishing regulations and fish stocking.

No. The Recreational Area Management Plan dictates that fish cleaning is to be conducted off site to protect drinking water quality.

In November 2024, Minister for Outdoor Recreation, Steve Dimopoulos, announced North Jindivick Road as the best location for the new boating facility.

This followed a detailed multi-criteria assessment that considered a range of factors, such as:

• environmental conditions
• cultural heritage
• public access
• cost.

The existing Tarago Reservoir Park location presents a range of challenges to safety and water quality. These made it unsuitable for enabling on-water recreation.

Road upgrades are outside the scope of this project.

Maintaining safe, clean and world-class drinking water supply from Tarago Reservoir remains Melbourne Water’s number one priority.

Waterway Rules have been established for Tarago Reservoir as part of opening it to on-water recreation. These Waterway Rules have been prepared with engagement from relevant authorities and stakeholders, and will be enforced by Melbourne Water and its site-based Authorised Water Officers.

Additionally, Melbourne Water and Gippsland Water have installed new ultraviolet (UV) upgrades to the existing water treatment plants attached to Tarago Reservoir to maintain water quality associated with contact with water.

An improved Water Quality Monitoring Program will be implemented before Tarago Reservoir opens, to track extra attributes like pathogens and hydrocarbon contamination alongside the current monitoring parameters.

Tarago Reservoir offers recreational fishing opportunities for freshwater species, including trout.

It was closed to fishing and boating in 1978 to protect drinking water quality. However, since then, advancements in water treatment have enabled Melbourne Water’s high standards to be maintained and allow for certain types of on-water recreation.

As part of a Victorian Government election commitment, Melbourne Water and Gippsland Water received $8 million to be spent on new and additional ultraviolet (UV) upgrades to treatment plants at Tarago Reservoir.

The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) has engaged with Traditional Owners about the project. Melbourne Water is supporting DEECA to engage with Traditional Owners on the Recreational Area Management Plan.

There is currently no Registered Aboriginal Party in the area where Tarago Reservoir is located. However, Traditional Owner groups with an interest in the land and water around and including Tarago Reservoir are being engaged by Melbourne Water.

Melbourne Water has been appointed the Waterways Manager under the Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic). This means we are responsible for managing the Waterway Rules that ensure safe and orderly on-water recreational use of the Tarago Reservoir.

The Waterways Manager role includes:

• overseeing boating safety and operations in line with maritime safety requirements
• supporting public safety and environmental protection
• working with local councils, user groups and emergency services on matters relating to Tarago Reservoir.

The Waterways Manager appointment complements Melbourne Water’s existing role in managing waterway health and water quality at Tarago Reservoir.

A draft Recreational Area Management Plan has been developed for Tarago Reservoir. This outlines the operational and maintenance obligations that Melbourne Water will manage to ensure drinking water quality is maintained while providing access to recreational fishing.

As the authority responsible for managing Tarago Reservoir, Melbourne Water is working with Better Boating Victoria (BBV), the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), Gippsland Water, Baw Baw Shire Council and other agencies to facilitate delivery of this government commitment.

Maintaining safe, clean and world-class drinking water supply from Tarago Reservoir remains Melbourne Water’s number one priority.

Better Boating Victoria (BBV) is a division of the Victorian Fisheries Authority, established in 2019 to reinvest recreational boating licence and registration fees into boating infrastructure. Its mission is to make boating in Victoria easier, cheaper, safer and more accessible for all Victorians.

BBV manages Victoria’s boat ramp construction and upgrade program. This includes improvements to existing facilities and developing new infrastructure.

For the Tarago project, BBV is leading the design and approvals phase of the Tarago Reservoir project and is working closely with delivery partners, Melbourne Water, and project consultants such as engineers, cultural heritage specialists and town planning advisors.

BBV will continue to be an active project partner during the construction phase when project management is handed over to Melbourne Water.

Melbourne Water owns, manages and maintains Tarago Reservoir and the closed catchment area surrounding it.

Melbourne Water will manage the operation of a Recreational Area Management Plan and Waterway Rules for Tarago Reservoir when it opens for on-water recreation.