The awards encourage, acknowledge and reward the valuable contributions individuals, communities and businesses are making throughout regional and rural Victoria.

Organisers have congratulated Green Hill Lake Development Board for being nominated and wish the group luck with judging on Wednesday September 10.

Green Hill Lake began as the Warryatkin Swamp only five kilometres from Ararat on the Western Highway in the 1800s.

The people of Ararat could see the benefits to the community and built a walking track from Ararat to the lake and today it is a very popular camping and tourist area just off the Western Highway that can be used as a rest and revive area for travellers and truck drivers using the busy highway.

When full the Department of Environment and Primary Industries releases fish into the lake which has proved to be an excellent trophy fishing lake.

The Green Hill Lake Development Board has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ararat Rural City Council to care for the lake and carry out improvements. All members are volunteers who are interested in improving the lake to attract visitors to boost the local economy.

Even though lack of water through droughts has seen the lake dry in places the members have continued to work and care for the lake and the surrounds over this time. There is an abundance of wildlife and birds with beautiful native trees planted over the years by many community groups.

Finalists will be presented and winners announced at an Awards Gala Presentation Dinner at Etihad Stadium on Friday October 24. All nominees not successful in reaching the finals but able to attend the award presentations will also be presented on stage with a framed certificate in recognition of their achievements.