Otways weir labelled ‘hypocritical’

Kim Waters
Plans to divert water from an Otways creek to Geelong are hypocritical, according to an election candidate criticised for promoting a similar project.
Liberal hopeful Andrew Katos accused State Government and Barwon Water of “changing their policies” on Dewings Creek.
“When others have proposed structures like weirs, Barwon Water and State Government have always said it’s bad for the environment and doesn’t add up economically,” the Geelong councillor said.
“They’ve been vehement in their criticism of anyone suggesting this kind of thing in the past and canned a similar proposal in 2003 for Gellibrand. A weir is a weir and the principle is the same no matter what river or creek you put it in, so why have they changed their policy?”
The Independent revealed last week that Barwon Water planned to reinstate a weir on the creek to divert 700 million litres a year into the region’s drinking supply.
Cr Katos said he was “surprised” to read about the plan, which he believed had been “kept quiet”.
His election opponent, South Barwon Labor MP and parliamentary secretary for water and environment Michael Crutchfield, said the weir would secure future water for Geelong and the Surf Coast.
“The $576,000 weir project is only two metres high and five metres wide,” Mr Crutchfield said.
“It is not smashing a great big hole in the pristine Otways and wasting tens of millions of dollars in the hope that in 10 years time it might rain, which is what the Liberal party wants to do.”
Mr Crutchfield said the weir was part of Labor’s plans to secure the region’s water supply, along with tapping borewater at Anglesea and connecting Geelong to Melbourne’s supply.
Cr Katos controversially proposed after earning Liberal pre-selection that State Government should review all options for water supply, including potential for a dam in the Otways.