A COLAC Yacht Club member says a causeway across Lake Colac could be civic leaders’ “only chance” of saving the lake.

Geoff Hunter, a long-time causeway advocate, will push his case for a heavy vehicle route across Lake Colac when he speaks at the yacht club’s annual meeting tonight.

Mr Hunter said the “barrage” should have sheet piling on each side, with sluice gates at the bottom of the lake.

“Any time you’d like to drain the lake, you’d drain the lake and in the process move the soil from the Colac side to the north side,” he said.

“The barrage would become a flood-control mechanism.”

A bridge or causeway across the lake is among 10 truck route options Colac Otway Shire Council released to gauge community feedback.

Opponents of a bridge or causeway say it would create traffic noise for lakeside residents, affect birdlife and ruin views of the lake.

Mr Hunter said a causeway could rejuvenate the lake by transferring sludge from one side of the route to the other.

But he said the route should travel west from Irrewarra, which would ease the concerns of Colac foreshore residents.

“This problem has been on the council’s plate for 60 years and every time they make a suggestion of where the road’s got to go, people are revolting against it,” he said.

“My prediction is the councillors are still attending school and it’s our duty now to educate them on the best and most cost-effective way.

“This will take the lake back to his former glory.”

The yacht club’s meeting will start at 8pm tonight.