Lakes bypass outrage

1. 1
2. 2

LAKES district residents have expressed clear opposition to any proposal to change the water regime in the Kerang Lakes network.

There were expressions of frustration and anger as Goulburn-Murray Water officials outlined details for a planned investigation to redirect water in the lakes system.The fact that a by-pass of some lakes is even being considered sparked outrage amongst participants at a meeting at Lake Charm.

The regional rural water supplier will begin extensive investigations early next year into diverting water away from the Reedy Lake system - Reedy, Middle and Third Lakes - Little Lake Charm and Racecourse Lake.The project is not investigating Kangaroo Lake or Lake Charm.

Lake Charm farmer, Stuart Simms told a meeting of about 50 people on Wednesday night that the community is worried about the impact that the project could have on the area.

"We had a meeting similar to this 43 years ago and we were assured that there would be no impact on the local community and there has been," he said.

"I want some reassurances now that there won't be any impact on the local community from this project.

"I would like to know who dreamt this up to have it investigated again after all this time."The proposal will instigate a channel south of Reedy Lake that would divert water to the Middle Lake ibis rookery, with a second channel to move water from Middle Lake to the current infrastructure between Third Lake and Little Lake Charm.A third channel would feed water to Lake Charm and Kangaroo Lake, thus removing Racecourse Lake and Little Lake Charm from irrigation operations.

GMW lakes by-pass investigation project executive planning manager, Ross Plunkett said if the investigations find there are no economical or environmental benefits, then the project won't go ahead.

"The only thing that is going ahead at this stage is the investigation, if it eventuates that there are no environmental and economical outcomes for the project, then it won't go ahead. We must stress that it is only an investigation at this stage," he said.

Residents at the meeting voiced their displeasure with an investigation taking place at all, calling it a waste of taxpayers' money.

"Why spend $1.8 million on an investigation when everyone in this community is against the project," one resident said.

"If you (G-MW staff) just came down and had a look at the lakes, you could see for yourself there is nothing wrong with them.

You keep talking about how much evaporation is, and in the logic of it all, you need the evaporation to go into the skies to come back as rain," she said."I mean, our earth was going perfectly fine before you guys came along and stuffed it all up.""You don't need to spend all this money investigating something that doesn't need fixing."Barapa Barapa elder, Esther Kirby said she sees no reason to make any changes to the lakes system."

By-pass project manager, Pat Feehan said the studies will look into restoring the wetland water regime close to its natural state."The aim of the investigation is to determine if the Kerang Lakes by-pass is a viable environmental option," he said."If it is viable then it will be implemented; if it's not, then it won't happen."

Mr Plunkett stressed it was important that local residents were involved in the investigation.