Landcare group welcomes waterways action

A LANDCARE group in the Otways has welcomed the state government’s push for a legally enforceable remediation plan to protect the health of waterways affected by over-extraction of groundwater from the Barwon Downs borefield.

Earlier this month, Water Minister Lisa Neville ordered Barwon Water to prepare a thorough remediation plan for the waterways in the area, and that the water authority must also discontinue any extraction activities (other than maintenance and emergency response) until then.

In a statement, Land and Water Resources Otway Catchment (LAWROC) Landcare Group said the elements of an acceptable remediation plan must include:

• Decommissioning of the Barwon Downs Borefield
• Re-instatement of stock and domestic water supplies to farmers along the Barwon River and Boundary Creek
• With the aim of rehabilitating the Yeodene Big Swamp wetlands, Boundary Creek and the upper reaches of the Barwon River to return to pre-pumping conditions
• A minimum flow regime in the Barwon River that will support EPBC nationally threatened stream species, and
• The implementation of EPA guidelines to manage the acid water and heavy metal spills.

“To meet community expectations a thorough remediation plan as described by Lisa Neville must successfully implement all of the above stated actions,” LAWROC Landcare Group vice president Malcolm Gardiner said.

“The success of the Southern Rural Water’s Community Reference Group, to oversee that these things are done, is dependent on a wide representation of community people from along the Barwon River catchment.

“This group will require independent advice and guidance from experts in biology, threatened species and hydrology versed in actual acid sulfate soil site rehabilitation.”

People wishing to register their interest can phone Southern Rural Water on 1300 139 510.