Meeting to address Aireys pipeline questions

THE Aireys Inlet and District Association (AIDA) will hold a public forum next month to discuss issues arising from the construction of the Aireys Inlet water pipeline.
In September last year, work started to build the 11-kilometre pipeline, which will connect Anglesea’s water supply to the towns of Aireys Inlet and Fairhaven.
AIDA president Charlotte Allen said AIDA had convened the meeting, along with the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CCMA), the Surf Coast Shire and Barwon Water, to explore any issues people had about the towns being taken off their previous water supply from Painkalac Reservoir.
She said likely topics at the meeting would include the impact on Painkalac Creek, environmental water flows, whether the possibility of flooding would increase, and the effects on the opening of the river mouth.
The public forum will also discuss the possible future uses of the reservoir, including the proposed low-impact recreational uses of a shared use track on either side of the reservoir for walking, horse riding and bicycle riding, picnic facilities, bird watching and recreational fishing. The CCMA, Barwon Water and Surf Coast Shire representatives will speak for 10 minutes each, and there will be at least half an hour of questions from the floor. The forum will be held at the Aireys Inlet community hall on April 9 at 5pm following AIDA’s annual general meeting, which starts at 3.30pm.