Groundwater review

By Kath Gannaway
THE State Government will conduct a broad review of groundwater management across Victoria.
But there will be no specific investigation into the Sunkoshi Pty Ltd’s licence to extract water at Powelltown.
Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato said she had met recently with Water Minister John Thwaites’ department and with the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) to talk about the Powelltown issue.
She said the original hydrology report indicated that the flow to Learmonth Creek would be reduced by 12 per cent once extraction started.
“What I have asked is, in light of the severity of the drought and with such a reduction in rainfall, would the creek flow be reduced by more than that predicted 12 per cent,” Ms Lobato said.
She said DSE would do some remodelling to look at the impact of reduced rainfall and other factors, which may not have been considered previously.
A spokesman for the minister has now advised Ms Lobato that extraction by Sunkoshi would be taken below the point at which Powelltown’s water is extracted.
Ms Lobato said it was difficult to look at the Powelltown situation on its own but welcomed the broader review.
Ian Martin, president of the Powelltown Residents’ Water Association, also welcomed the review, which he said was overdue.
“Flows in Learmonth Creek are so low at the moment we are struggling to get enough water over our own pick up to cover our supply,” Mr Martin said.
“There are people who are abusing it (water extraction), and others who need the water but in this current climate the sort of business these people (Sunkoshi) want to set up is just non-sustainable.”