Increased flood risk concerns

CONCERNS have been raised that the adoption to alterations to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan released earlier this week could lead to increased flood risks for the district.

Both scenarios involve the removal of key constrains, such as increasing water releases from the Hume weir from 25,000 megalitres per day to 40,000 megalitres per day.Water Minister Tony Burke released on Tuesday modelling by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority that outline how the environment would react to either 2800 gigalitres or 3200 gigalitres being diverted from community and agricultural use to the basin.

The modelling found that the plan would be able to meet previously unmet high flow targets at five iconic environmental sites throughout the basin, including the Gunbower-Perricoota-Koondrook forests.

"Importantly, this modelling shows that with constraints relaxed, there are improved outcomes for the environment, particularly the Murray River, its main tributaries and the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth,'' Mr Burke said.

"I want to work with the basin states to provide healthy working rivers and this modelling will assist us in this task."I'm willing to work co-operatively to find a pathway which delivers the healthy rivers we need in a way which is sensitive to the challenges faced by rural communities."

The modelling has been criticised by local leaders, politicians and industry groups.

Gannawarra Shire mayor, Cr Max Fehring said the modelling scenarios created risks for towns adjacent to Gunbower Island, such as Barham/Koondrook, Cohuna and Gunbower.

"Any time you increase the flows of a river you run the risk of flooding the moment you do it," he said.

"If a quarter of the rainfall that occurred (leading up to the floods) in 2011 occurred on an supercharged river, there would be big problems.

Cr Fehring, along with fellow councillors and municipal committees, have spent the past few years lobbying the authority and the respective governments regarding the impact the basin plan would have on rural communities."Plans and modelling do not reflect what happens in real life. You only need to look at the floods of last year and see that each flood is different."

"This adds another concern to a community that is already adjusting to changes," he said.

"Once again the debate has become about the volume of water (needed for the environment) and pitted people against others, rather than looking at the outcomes of the proposal."