There would be many people not only in the Stawell area, but from all parts of the state, who would vividly remember waves crashing against the sandy foreshore at Lake Lonsdale.

That was back in the day when Lonsdale was considered a premier tourist attraction and the best recreational water facility the region had to offer.

Fishing, boating and safe swimming, not to mention the myriad of camping spots along the foreshore, were enjoyed over many years by locals and tourists alike.

The stories we hear of Lake Lonsdale now though are `what a waste'. A lake that once drew people from far and wide has been reduced to nothing more than a baron piece of ground, becoming overgrown with weeds.

There does appear to be some light at the end of the tunnel, with Lonsdale listed as being among those storages that will remain in use once the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline has been completed.

However, there is a catch, as the lake will have to rely on rain alone to maintain any sort of water level and we all know that hasn't worked for the past 10 years at least!