The Love our Lakes program works for its ‘shareholders’ – the community, environment and wildlife and the 2025-26 Gippsland Lakes Annual Report highlights the keys ‘returns’ for the Ramsar listed Gippsland Lakes on Gunaikurnai Country.

Gunaikurnai Traditional Owners are the Lakes’ First Peoples and have self-determined their roles in the ongoing management and protection of the Gippsland Lakes. Across the year, Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) continued to lead work on Country. Through pest plant and animal control, their team worked across the Outer Barrier to target invasive species impacting native flora and fauna in this important area.  

The report also highlights the success of creating and improving habitat for native fish in rivers with local angling clubs and interest groups. These works have improved the availability, density and connectivity of habitat for species such as Australian Bass, Estuary Perch, Black Bream, as well as threatened species such as the Australian Grayling.

The report celebrates successes over seven key areas, outlining the total investment and actions for each:

• Protecting the Traditional Owner Country of the Gippsland Lakes Outer Barrier.
• Improving the Condition and Connectivty of Lake Wellington and its Wetlands.
• Protecting and Enhancing Alpine Ecosystems.
• Improving the Wetlands of Jones Bay.
• Understanding and Improving Aquatic Habitats and Ecosystems.
• Improving the Condition of the East Gippsland Catchments.
• Improving the Condition of the West Gippsland Catchments.

The user-friendly report features a map of the Lakes noting where each of the program actions have been completed.  

Previous copies of the Gippsland Lakes Annual Reports are available below.

• 2024-2025 Gippsland Lakes Annual Report (PDF – 2MB)
• 2023-2024 Gippsland Lakes Annual Report (PDF – 1MB)
• 2022-2023 Gippsland Lakes Annual Report (PDF – 1MB)
• 2021-2022 Gippsland Lakes Annual Report (PDF – 2MB)