Catch-a-Carp for healthier waterways

Published on 16 September 2026

Navin Park Catch a Carp Day event.png

Families and fishing enthusiasts are invited to cast a line, catch some carp and help protect local waterways at Catch-a-Carp Day at Navan Park Lake on Saturday 24 October.

Held from 10am to 2pm to commemorate National Water Week, Catch-a-Carp Day is a free community event presented by Melton City Council in partnership with NatureWest.

Carp are an invasive species that can have significant impacts on the health of our waterways. Female carp can produce up to one-million eggs per year, they grow quickly, mature early and can tolerate extreme conditions including temperature changes and water quality.

Carp are bottoms feeders and stir up mud and sediments as they feed. This makes the water muddy, impacting the amount of sunlight reaching aquatic vegetation, and reducing its growth. This effects our native fish, who are dependant on this vegetation for food and shelter. Carp also pray on native fish eggs, larvae and juvenile fish. In addition, carp are responsible for extensive riverbank, as they remove established aquatic plants.

Catch-a-Carp Day provides the community with a practical opportunity to learn about these impacts while enjoying a fun day outdoors and helping remove carp from Navan Park Lake.

The event is suitable for beginners and experienced fishers alike, with volunteers on hand to provide fishing instruction, help bait hooks, and assist with the safe handling of carp.

Visitors can also enjoy:

  • Fishing presentations throughout the day from Happy Fisherman
  • Fishing rods available for hire
  • A fishing competition with fantastic prizes
  • A free BBQ supplied by Greening Melton-Bacchus Marsh Inc.
  • Native Fish Hatchery display tanks
  • Face painting and coffee
  • Education stalls from Melbourne Water, Eynesbury Environment Group, Djerriwarrh Creek Community Group, FishCare, VRFish, Victorian Fisheries Authority, NatureWest, and Melton City Council’s Sustainability and Waste teams
  • The opportunity to visit the Melbourne Water information tent and trade in old illegal opera house nets for a free wildlife-safe net

Catch-a-Carp Day is a chance for families and community members to learn more about the health of local waterways, discover the joys of fishing and play a part in protecting native aquatic ecosystems.

Event details

What: Catch-a-Carp Day
When: Saturday 24 October, 10am–2pm
Where: Navan Park Lake, Harkness Cost: Free
Registrations: Catch-a-Carp Day at Navan Park Lake - Melton Learning

Bring the family, cast a line and help make a difference for our local waterways.

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