By Luke Voogt
Acid levels high enough to kill fish in a creek near Colac after “excessive“ groundwater pumping have prompted calls to repair “terrible“ environmental damage.
Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson urged State Government to disclose its plans to remediate the “technically dead” Boundary Creek at Yeodene on Tuesday.
“The acid sulphate levels are so high that no fish can live in the water and the pylons which form part of the Gerangamete Bridge are being impacted,” she said.
But Victorian Water Minister Lisa Neville hit back saying remediation plans were well underway.
“It’s clear Sarah Henderson doesn’t understand this issue and has not paid any attention to work that is underway to ensure the health of this important waterway.“
Ms Henderson and Federal Environment Minister Melissa Price toured the creek, where groundwater pumping had caused long-lasting and serious damage, she said.
“There is evidence of declining populations of platypus, a protected species. I have previously raised these matters which was met with denials by Barwon Water that there was any issue.“
While Barwon Water stopped pumping groundwater from Barwon Downs Borefield in 2016, the damage led to acidic water entering Barwon River and flowing toward Geelong in June 2018.
“Barwon Water has only recently conceded that its licence to extract as much as 20,000 mega litres of water a year from the Otways aquifer has compromised the health of these waterways,” Ms Henderson said.
“Barwon Water (managing director) Tracey Slatter has apologised to the community but this is not good enough.“
Barwon Water was now applying for a new licence to extract up to 12,000 megalitres a year at Barwon Downs in the Gerangamete Groundwater Management Area, Ms Henderson said.
“Barwon Water must withdraw its license application and State Water Minister Lisa Neville must urgently disclose her plan to remediate the waterways.”
But Ms Neville said she had already intervened to ensure Barwon Water would not receive a licence to extract further water until remediation works concluded.
“We are working closely with the community to ensure remediation is done appropriately and that there is strong oversight of potential environmental impacts.”
Southern Rural Water, which grants licences in the southern half of Victoria, would conduct additional environmental assessments before deciding on Barwon Water’s application, Ms Neville said.
“This is about getting the balance right to ensure that there is minimal environmental impact whilst maintaining affordable back up water supplies for Geelong and the region.”
