FEDERATION Council has re-activated plans to develop Lake Urana as a tourism drawcard.
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The lake is one of the largest natural lakes in the southern Riverina measuring 6475 hectares in size with an estimated capacity of 25,000 megalitres and sits between the Murray and Murrumbidgee rivers within two hours of major centres of Albury, Wagga and Deniliquin.
It fills during peak flood periods and takes about eight years to drain without significant inflows, but has no formal public access.
The former Urana Shire investigated development options twice in the lead-up before the merger with Corowa with seven projects identified including improvements to the McCaughey picnic grounds, access point from Lake Road, native gardens and a heritage cultural centre.
Significant Aboriginal artefacts have been found on the southern shore.
Federation Council was recently invited by the NSW Premier’s Office to apply for state government funding with council awaiting notification of its expressions of interest in the funding submitted in September.
Lands beneath and adjoining the lake are a mix of Crown lands, reserves and land held under lease for grazing purposes with mayor Pat Bourke confirming it would be long-term project.
“The Lake Urana district concept project has been developed to provide a conduit for economic development in the Urana area,” Federation general manager Adrian Butler said.