Western Australian lake transformed from open-cut mine to water sports recreation hub

A former open-cut mine located 200 kilometres south east of Perth has been transformed into a popular location for recreation and water sports.

Collie’s Lake Kepwari, which also serves as a reservoir, was an open-cut mine for almost 30 years before its rehabilitation.

Situated on the Collie River Waugal Aboriginal Heritage Site 10 kilometres south-east of Collie, the reservoir and other waterbodies and channels making up the Collie River system play an important role in the lives of Noongar people.

In their Indigenous language ‘Kepwari’ means ‘playing in water’, and with canoeing, waterskiing, swimming and fishing now possible at the site the lake now fulfils its name.

Rehabilitation works on the mine initially started in the 1980s before its operations officially came to a close in 1996.

As reported by the West Australian, the 32-gigalitre capacity void left by the mine - almost the same volume as Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra - was first filled with water.

The area was then seeded with more than 60 species of native vegetation which has now developed into an established bushland.

Recent works to develop the lake into a recreation hub include a swim beach, picnic areas, campground, toilets, dual lane boat ramp and jetty, and parking bays for 85 boat trailers and 65 cars.

Upgrades to the entrance road, a new bridge over the Collie River and signage throughout the area has turned the area into a water sports landmark.

Officially opened by Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan last December, Lake Kepwari was is the latest mine to be rehabilitated to become a recreation hub, following in the footsteps of the nearby Black Diamond Lake.

Black Diamond Lake has been popular on social media for its distinctive blue waters, with tourists visiting the site benefitting the struggling town of Collie whose economy and community have traditionally relied on mining and power generation.

Lake Kepwari’s transformation is similarly expected to attract an influx of tourists and visitors, which will provide a much-needed boost for businesses around Collie.

Early estimates anticipate that after three years, Lake Kepwari should attract up to 22,000 overnight stays and 37,000 day trip visitors per annum, contributing millions to the local economy.

Lake Kepwari’s rehabilitation is a key development project in the South West region undertaken by Premier Coal, with the Western Australian Government committing $5.7 million to the plan.

Yancoal’s Matthew Gerber said Premier Coal’s aim was to create a functioning, self-sustaining ecosystem that would integrate into the surrounding bushland, landscape and lake.

Gerber advised “land rehabilitation and relinquishment is part of responsible mining - taking the land over which mining companies have had temporary stewardship and handing it back to the community as an asset for future use.”

Lake Kepwari is fed from the Collie River and measures 65 metres at its deepest point and has a perimeter of 5.4 kilometres.

Images: Lake Kepwari as a recreation hub today (top) and mining on the site that is now Lake Kepwari (below). Credit: Premier Coal.