Call to see secret dams study

Andrew Mathieson
A GEELONG councillor has demanded State Government “puts the report on the table” after revelations it investigated building dams in the Otways.
Andrew Katos said the Government must reveal how much water the two dam options could supply to the region.
Cr Katos entered council last month after a by-election, calling for the Government to investigate building a dam as an alternative to a $600 million plan for boosting the region’s water supply, including interconnection with Melbourne.
Member for South Barwon Michael Crutchfield, the Govern-ment’s parliamentary secretary for water, slammed Cr Katos, saying the issue was “done and dusted”.
However, a Melbourne newspaper revealed this week that before the last state election the Government had “secretly” investigated building dams throughout the state, including two in the Otways at Upper Gellibrand and Halls Ridge.
The report said the dams would cost $300 million and $500 million respectively.
The newspaper’s online poll the next day revealed that 77.4 per cent of respondents believed the Government should boost water supplies with new dams.
Cr Katos said the study revelation vindicated his call for a dam investigation.
He wanted the study’s findings made public.
“The report has been done and there’s nothing to hide,” he said.
“Obviously, we’ve got hold of what the costs are for building each dam but what are the benefits?
“I’d also like to know what are the environmental costs preventing it.”
Mr Crutchfield said the “exhaustive” study proved that dams were too costly and damaging to the environment.
Dams were also inefficient because reduced rain from climate change would have a “significant impact on our water storages”, Mr Crutchfield said.
“The Government’s own report backs everything I have said all along: dams are not the solution for our water security because they are simply not viable, environmentally or economically,” he said.
“Dams rely on rainfall and inflows into our water catchments and, in a period of climate change and population growth, only an irresponsible Government would risk building another dam in Victoria that may remain near empty.”