Agencies working together to respond to Barongarook Creek fish deaths

Published on 02 November 2026

Colac Otway Shire Council is working with key agencies to respond to the recent fish deaths in Barongarook Creek.

Representatives from Council, EPA Victoria, DEECA, and Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CMA) have met to identify actions required to address the issue.

As a result, it has been agreed that contractors will be engaged to remove concentrations of dead carp from the Barongarook Creek where this is practical, beginning with a trial to test the method of removal and its effectiveness.

DEECA and Council will share the costs of carp removal based on their respective land manager responsibilities for different parts of the creek.

The carp have been appearing in large numbers over the past week on the back of what appears to be a naturally occurring event due to low water flows and lack of oxygen in the water during carp breeding season.

Council General Manager of Infrastructure and Environment Doug McNeill said the agencies understand the community's concern about the environmental impact of the event, as well as the effect it has had on the enjoyment of the Barongarook Creek area.

“Residents have reported unpleasant odours from fish accumulating in parts of the creek, and many people are understandably distressed to see a waterway they care about affected in this way,” he said.

Over the past week, Council crews have been working daily along the banks of Barongarook Creek, removing dead fish and helping to manage the impacts on the surrounding area. Additional bins have also been installed to support ongoing clean-up efforts and community use of the area.

"Barongarook Creek is an important part of our community and we know many residents are upset by what they are seeing,” Mr McNeill said.

"All the groups involved share those concerns. We are concerned about the impact this event is having on the creek, on local wildlife and on the amenity of the area for nearby residents and visitors.

"That's why we've worked closely with the relevant agencies this week. Each organisation has a different role to play, but we all share the same goal of understanding what has happened, responding appropriately and helping the creek recover.”

“The timing of works to commence the trial clean-up is still being negotiated with contractors, and we will let the public know as soon as we can”, Mr McNeill said.

Current Action Plan

The agencies have agreed to a coordinated response, with responsibilities allocated across the organisations involved beyond the immediate contracted works to remove carp from the creek.

Council will continue the collection and disposal of dead fish from accessible areas of banks along the creek in its public open spaces and maintain additional bins in affected areas.

Council, DEECA and Corangamite CMA will jointly facilitate removal of the carp from the areas of Barongarook Creek, with a focus on those areas closest to housing and built-up areas, noting that a trial will be first conducted to test the capacity to reasonably remove the dead fish.

The EPA is providing technical advice to support recovery efforts.

Looking Ahead

While the immediate focus is on investigating the current event and managing its impacts, agencies are also looking at longer-term actions to improve the health and resilience of local waterways.

This includes ongoing work around carp management planning for Lake Colac and surrounding waterways. Agencies recognise that fish death events have occurred previously during periods of dry weather and fish breeding activity, when low water levels and declining water quality can create challenging conditions for aquatic life.

As part of future planning, the agencies will consider measures that may help reduce the likelihood and severity of similar events occurring in the future, while continuing to monitor the health of the creek and surrounding waterways.

The agencies are committed to working together, sharing information and keeping the community informed as investigations progress and future actions are developed.