By Luke Voogt
Geelong should drink recycled water before building another dam in the Otways, according to the city’s peak community environmental group.
“There should be no more dams in the Otways,” said Geelong Environmental Council president Joan Lindros.
“Geelong should be looking to recycle water for potable use.”
Ms Lindros was responding to last week’s Indy story on Barwon Water confirming plans to study the viability of a new dam at Dewing Creek in the Otway Ranges.
“The solution to Geelong’s water problems in the future is not to keep dragging water out of the Otways, which is depleting the Barwon River,” Ms Lindros said.
“We should be concentrating on recycling and bringing it up to highest possible use, like they do in America and Europe.”
Dewing Creek was one of many waterways flowing into the Barwon River, Ms Lindros said.
“The more of those creeks get damned, the less will go into the river.
“We really should be using the amount of water we have rather than putting more stress on the Barwon River.”
Ms Lindros said inadequate flow in years of drought could cause damage to habitats along the river which is home to endangered species including platypus.
Barwon Water told the Indy last week that it was withholding the sale of land at Dewing Creek, previously earmarked for a dam, until State Government completed its urban water strategy next year.
“The authority had announced the land sale a month earlier, citing modelling showing insufficient available water for a large dam.
“Any substantial increase in water harvesting for drinking water use would impact on other water users, such as agricultural diverters, and the environment,” said Barwon Water’s Carl Bicknell in October.
Local coalition MP Richard Riordan welcomed Barwon Water considering a dam.
The Polwarth MP said a secure, long-term water supply in times of “climatic uncertainty” was a “strong community desire”.
“Barwon Water has made a responsible decision to take another look at the Dewing Creek site.”
