A new report from a group of Goulburn Valley basin representatives outlines ways in which a loosening of constraints would allow more environmental watering.

The group, chaired by former Victorian Nationals leader Pat McNamara and appointed by the Victorian Government, found that the delivery of over-bank flows under relaxed constraints for environmental watering would target environmentally valuable public land but would unavoidably inundate council and private land and assets on the lower floodplain as well.

“Public and private assets within the inundated areas include pumps, culverts, access tracks and fences,” the report said.

No dwellings would be inundated.

“In addition to direct asset impacts, there are potential long-term recurring impacts resulting from regular inundation, such as loss of production, pasture restoration, debris clean-up, fence reinstatement, agistment costs, maintenance and other related factors,” the report found

“As compensation payments are unlikely to be ongoing or event based, any upfront compensation for impacted landowners must consider the enduring nature of the impacts from relaxing constraints.

“It is important to acknowledge that the impact of inundation extends beyond the directly affected land. It can also disrupt crucial access points to properties, significantly impacting business operations.

“This concern is particularly significant in the Hume to Yarrawonga reach, where committee members emphasised the substantial impact on private infrastructure and the potential harm to property and landowners if the highest flow rate scenario of 40,000 Ml/day is implemented.

“Any future compensation and mitigation arrangement must include consideration of impeded access.“

The VFF said the government must work with farmers and seek their agreement to flood farmland to achieve environmental watering objectives under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

VFF Water Council chair Andrew Leahy said the release of the report into constraints relaxation showed hundreds of farm properties would be subject to inundation.

“Constraint relaxation is one of the 36 SDLAM [Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism] projects part of the basin plan and was projected to deliver a 70 to 80 Gl offset benefit to the environment,” Mr Leahy said.

“Pushing extra water on floodplains will mean the flooding of some farms. We need to ensure the impacts on farmers are considered.”

Mr Leahy said the VFF had long argued that flooding of private property must not occur without agreement from impacted landowners, including for compensation.

The report was welcomed by the Goulburn Valley Environment Group and places Victoria in a strong position to be positively involved in the development of the Muurray-Darling Basin Authority ‘Constraint Roadmap’ due by the end of December this year.

The study included flow options for the Murray River (Hume to Yarrawonga and Yarrawonga to Wakool Junction) and the Goulburn River, and considered flows ranging up to minor flood levels which would water only low-level parts of the floodplain.

Goulburn Valley Environment Group spokesman John Pettigrew said the feasibility study clearly details the benefits and risks of relaxing constraints along sections of the Goulburn and Murray rivers and the potential implications for private landholders and local communities.

“The study also clearly identifies landholders and communities (those directly below Hume and Eildon storages) that will be most impacted, and considered transitional assistance and compensation needed to achieve equitable outcomes,” he said.

The study also identifies potential benefits of reduced bank erosion, improved water quality and increased water storage opportunities.

“GVEG has long called for the full utilisation of environmental water to realise maximum environmental benefits for the Goulburn River and downstream and looks forward to this report leading to a healthier Goulburn River floodplain connecting to its wetlands,” Mr Pettigrew said.

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Monday, 15th April 2024

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