Busy day with Shaping our Future

We had a busy day visiting three schools in Cromwell and running our last online workshop to collect feedback for the community visioning report for lake Dunstan

Our first stop was at Goldfields Primary School to learn what the young minds loved, hated and wanted for our Lake Dunstan. It was incredible to discover how much they knew about the history and issues currently facing the lake but also the immeasurable sense of pride and positive hope for its future.
Some of the great (and wacky) ideas for the lake were:
* Sandy beaches
* Wildlife Sanctuaries
* Underwater Observatory
* Eel passes
* Freshwater Dolphins!

The second stop was Cromwell College where we spoke with a variety of students of different ages and connections to the lake to understand their concerns and aspirations for the lake.
The level of awareness on aquatic weed, silting, development and our own environmental responsibility was very humbling. We are sure this generation will do great things for our planet's future!
What they thought are the best aspects of the lake:
* BBQS
* Spaces for socialising
* Deepwater
* lots of bridges to jump off!
Worst aspects of the lake:
* Silt & sandbanks
* Rubbish in and along the lake
* Duck itch
* Shallowing of Alpha street Pontoon

The third stop was Cromwell Primary School to speak with an amazing Yr 3/4 students that were very excited to represent their school in the lake's future. They helped Shaping Our Future understand all the 'best' spots to play and explore and learn what they think would make the lake "epic."
Their favourite spots:
* Kayaking in Bannockburn Inlet
* Pisa mooring boat ramp and playground
* Alpha Street
* Bendigo Wetlands
Ideas for improvements:
* Weedeater
* Waterslides and swings into the lake
* More pontoons
* Swim-only areas
* Annual lake party
* And the sweetest suggestion...Seats where your feet dangle in the water and watch the sunset with family


Last but not least, we had our final Shaping Our Future online workshop. Thank you to everyone who has attended the workshops and completed our survey.

The next step is to process all the feedback to discover the main concerns, values and recommendations for Lake Dunstan. Then we can work towards writing a report that will encompass the community's vision for its future.
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Don't worry if you haven't had a chance to give your feedback yet, our survey is open will Sunday and you can email the trust anytime to share your thoughts and ideas at community@lakedunstan.org