WATER Minister Tim Holding announced earlier this week the Labor Government’s emergency plan to shore up Melbourne’s water supply until the Wonthaggi desalination plant was up and running.
The contingency plan would see 10 billion litres of water diverted from the Thomson river each year to safeguard against shortages.
The plan sparked instant concern from environmentalists and locals in eastern Victoria who pointed to existing degradation along the river channel and in the Gippsland Lakes where the Thomson river flows to sea.
Mr Holding said environmental studies had been undertaken through winter looking into the Yarra and Thomson rivers and from which water could be extracted with the least environmental costs.
The studies showed the Thomson river would be the most likely source and Mr Holding is expected to clarify soon if the project will go ahead.
Southern Rural Water’s managing director Clinton Rodda said any reduction in harvest rights for the Macalister Irrigation District would be replaced in the first instance by water saved through recent channel automation works.
“If the automation savings do not provide sufficient water in any one season, Melbourne will buy water to ensure irrigators’ allocations are maintained,” he said.
“If this can’t be done, then financial compensation based on market value will be provided to irrigators.”
Assistance will also be provided for irrigators on the Thomson River and Rainbow Creek if their pumps are stranded due to lower passing flows, he said.
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