Dam it, says new councillor Katos

Andrew Mathieson
State Government should set aside policy to consider building a new dam for Geelong, according to the city’s new councillor.
Liberal Andrew Katos is the region’s first elected member of a major political party to publicly call for a new dam since the Labor Government adopted its no-dams policy. He joined Geelong’s council when he won a by-election in Deakin Ward last Friday.
Councillor Katos said he wanted a feasibility study on a new dam to address concerns that proposed population growth could drain the city’s water supply.
He conceded his push for a dam in the Otways could be in vain with the Government having the final word.
But he believed that “factual data” from a technical study could convince the Government to build a new dam.
“It’s not a council decision or a council matter but I believe that, as a council, we should lobby and influence the Government more to take action,” Cr Katos said.
“In the end, there might be absolutely nothing we can do.”
Cr Katos said Geelong had grown “enormously” since the last major storage project, West Barwon Reservoir, in 1965.
He doubted the region would cope with demand from proposed new suburbs for around 50,000 residents south of Geelong.
“We’re going from 200,000 people to 250,000 with no increased water capacity,” Mr Katos said.
“Water recycling and water-saving measures are all good initiatives but I don’t think that on their own they’ll solve the problem.
“You must put all options on the table. If you start discounting a dam, if you start discounting the use of an aquifer, how can we make an informed decision?”
Cr Katos said an investigation might reveal that a new dam would be cheaper and more effective than the Government’s existing $600 million plan to meet future demand.
Labor Member for South Barwon Michael Crutchfield, the Government’s parliamentary secretary for water, mauled Cr Katos over his dam call.
“It is very poor form by this Liberal apparatchik to bring Liberal party politics to council and ambush his fellow councillors before he has even taken off his training wheels or met (the other councillors),” Mr Crutchfield said.
“The Brumby Government…has provided $20 million toward the Melbourne-Geelong pipeline to ensure we can secure Geelong’s water supply for the next 50 years without the need for any new dams.”
Mr Crutchfield offered to meet Cr Katos to “help him understand how council operates and inform him of council water policy”.
In the 1980s Barwon Water bought land, which it still owns, for a new Otways dam.