United front forms to fight for struggling Moorabool

John Van Klaveren
THREE adjoining municipalities have banded together to try to save the Moorabool River.
City of Greater Geelong joined Golden Plains and Moorabool shires in the combined effort to bring sustainable water flows back to Victoria’s “most-stressed river”.
Councillors from the three municipalities have formed a coalition called Concerned Councils for the Moorabool River (CCMR).
The coalition said it would follow up federal and state politicians to ensure they kept commitments to the health of the river.
People for a Living Moorabool (PALM) spokesman Cameron Steele welcomed the coalition.
“For the first time we have a government group looking at the river in its entirety,” Mr Steele said.
Geelong councillor John Doull, who holds council’s environment and climate change portfolio, said the Moorabool was economically important to the region because it provided vital water for farms, vineyards and market gardens.
“The Moorabool is also an important source for domestic water supplies and plays a major role in supporting a variety of social and recreational activities in the region.”
Cr Doull said a CCMR draft action plan urged federal and state authorities to engage in “closer liaison” with local government and the community on the replenishment of the Moorabool.
Cr Doull said each of the river’s qualities had been in decline to the point of extinction for a number of years due to water harvesting and lengthy drought.
He said the flow on effects impacted on the Barwon River and internationally significant wetlands at Lake Connewarre.
Cr Doull said authorities had failed to meet commitments to the river in a 2006 Central Highlands sustainable water strategy.
“This is at least in part attributable to the dry conditions experienced across the region in recent years,” he said.
“However, it is evident that these conditions now appear to be easing, as earlier this year Central Highlands Water announced an easing of water restrictions in Ballarat, given increased water supplies and security including the connection to the Goldfields super pipe,” Cr Doull said.
“It is timely to remind all parties of existing responsibilities to the Moorabool River.”
Mr Steele said PALM had been fighting for the river for four years.
The coalition represented hope of saving the river, he said.
“The river has suffered in the past by being split among the shires and electorates.
“The State Government has made commitments in the past of 6000 megalitres to come on stream when Geelong and Ballarat both had augmented water supplies.
“With the Melbourne-Geelong interconnection, the Anglesea borefield and the Goldfields super pipe, that condition is being met.
“It’s time to put the flow back into the Moorabool,” Mr Steele said.