Ararat’s Green Hill Lake, the Grampians’ Lake Fyans and Stawell’s Lake Lonsdale have all filled up thanks to September and October rain.

This has seen a jump in the number recreational water users as well.

Northern Grampians police Inspector Ian Lindsay said people had to remember their obligations when it comes to water safety.

“We have had considerable rain, we are looking at Green Hill Lake, around Lake Lonsdale, Lake Fyans and other areas, it gives us an opportunity for recreational sports,” he said.

“People need to have an understanding about their safety obligation and the equipment they need when on the water.”

Inspector Lindsay said residents should have make sure friends and family know where they are going and how to contact them in case of an emergency.

“They should have a safety plan and equipment, and an understanding about how to enact it when the opportunity comes,” he said.

“Checking their equipment prior to going out on the water, that is about trailers and safety, bearings and winches.

“Let people know what place you are going, what time and some contact details. Have a point of call for where you are going to go.”

Green Hill Lake Development Board member Gwenda Allgood said the popular site had seen a huge increase in caravans, campers and water users since the rain.

“We have actually had 20-30 caravans on and off through the week and at the weekend there were about nine boats on the water,” she said.

“We have had great numbers, it has been really good.

“There was no water last year – so this is a really bumper year – It would be three or four years since we had boats on it.”

Mrs Allgood said Ararat would benefit from the extra numbers stopping to use the lake and its camping grounds.

“It is going to be exciting and you can’t emphasise how beneficial it is going to be for Ararat,” she said.

The Ararat district has a good record when it comes to water safety, but that has also coincided with less water being available for boats and water sports in the past four years.

Inspector Lindsay said people could expect regular police patrols, licence checks, and boat and vehicle compliance checks.

“We can sit proud in recent years, because we do have a good safety record without incidents recorded, but we are coming of a significant period of water restrictions and low levels in these areas,” he said.

“It is the first time water has returned to a good level and increased the activity at some of our lakes.

“We would ask people to look at their safety and look at compliance issues to ensure we maintain that compliance issues.”