YARRAWONGA's airport runway will be widened to meet Civil Aviation Safety Authority standards next month.

During the works, the runway will be closed to planes from February 6 to February 20.

Moira Shire Mayor Alex Monk said the upgrade would increase the width of the sealed runway.

Work will also include shoulder regrading to improve drainage.

"The aerodrome has 800 to 1000 (flight) movements each month and is utilised by local, regional and interstate aircraft," Cr Monk said.

"Moira Shire Council understands the closure is an inconvenience, however the upgrade and associated closure is necessary to ensure compliance with CASA requirements."

7000 fish released

ABOUT 7000 estuary perch fingerlings have been released into Lake Bolac.

Agriculture and Food Security Minister Peter Walsh said it was the first large-scale stocking of the fish in Victoria.

"Plans to stock estuary perch have been on the drawing board for many years but the species has proved difficult to breed reliably," Mr Walsh said.

He said the breakthrough came in November last year when anglers caught 31 ripe broodfish from the Hopkins River.

"The broodstock were taken by chartered aeroplane to a leading bass farmer in NSW, which led to successful spawning and the growing of larvae in purpose-built saline plankton ponds." 

Leak closes pool

THE Moe\Newborough indoor pool will be closed from January 20 for urgent work.

Repairs to a leaking pipe under the indoor pool are expected to take four to six weeks.

Latrobe City Council recreation, culture and community infrastructure general manager Grantley Switzer said the pool, built in 1976, had plumbing buried under it and the concourse so the pool deck had to be removed.

Painting, new seats and work on windows will be done while the pool is closed.

Outdoor pools at Moe and Yallourn North are available.