Council’s representatives will aim to first present their proposals at the Region 1 MDA meeting, with successful motions moving to the broader MDA conference for consideration.
The first motion appeals to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority for enhanced regulation of Murray River levels during peak tourist seasons.
This initiative arose from difficulties faced in January in Corowa specifically and further downstream like Yarrawonga, where reduced river levels not only endangered river users but also inflicted economic blows due to decreased tourism, as visitors were unable to participate in activities like water skiing.
The second motion promotes the allocation of cultural water to rejuvenate areas, indicating a strategic approach to water resource utilisation that aligns with community and environmental benefits.
The upcoming MDA National Conference, centred on the theme ‘The Future of Water Security,’ will delve into critical concerns over water availability that may influence the wellbeing of basin communities and industries. The council’s proactive involvement in the MDA is poised to ensure that their motions if passed, could stimulate constructive dialogue and policy development on water management.
At the February meeting of council last week, Councillor Sally Hughes highlighted a community plea from Peter Hamilton of the West Corurgan Private Irrigation District, emphasising the necessity for consistent river height to support agricultural and domestic water use.
“The event in January affected the West Corurgan irrigation system and caused a lot of problems,” Cr Hughes said.
“They’re asking for a two-metre minimum height at the Corowa River gauge during irrigation season because it’s critical for water extraction not just for irrigation of 300 properties which covers an area of 212 thousand hectares but also for stock and domestic purposes.”
Deputy Mayor Shaun Whitechurch further stressed the correlation between river flow and the vitality of local tourism and recreation, particularly emphasising the impact on activities such as rowing.
“It’s the flow that determines the height. If we are not seeing flows above 15,000 plus megalitres, we are not going to have the tourism and any of the rowing clubs along the river even won’t be able to utilise the river effectively,” he said.
Cr Whitechuch also mentioned he had received correspondence from Federal Member for Farrer Sussan Ley’s office.
“She’s agreed to attend an in person with myself, the mayor and the general manager to discuss the issues and encouraging other councils further downstream to come on board, meet with the Murray Darling Basin Authority to discuss these issues also.”
Federation Council Mayor Pat Bourke also highlighted that at the RAMJO meeting last month he spoke with the NSW Minister for Water Rose Jackson about the issues experienced on the Murray being in close proximity to Hume Dam with excess water in flood periods and not enough in tourism periods.
In January Mulwala Water Ski Club Ski Co-ordinator Pete O’Neill said whilst low water levels didn’t cause any catastrophic damage or injury over the holiday period, several water users had issues with what lies under the water that they usually would not have any concerns with.
“Years ago the lake used to be kept higher and they (water authorities) lowered it with the excuse of evaporation. Because when it is dropped it drops about two inches, if it was kept even an inch / 5cms higher than the normal level it wouldn’t be a big deal,” Mr O’Neill said.
“Because the water authorities keep it on the bare minimum most of the time, when somebody requires irrigation or the likes it really hurts the lake.
“It also lowers the water levels in Bundalong which creates hotter water temps, which actually increases the evaporation rate.
“It is smarter to keep the lake slightly higher because you have deeper water which has lower evaporation.
“For a long time the sentiment has been that we should run it at 5 – 10cm higher as an average. It doesn’t affect any of the docks or boat ramps, it doesn’t really cause any issues.
“It just means when the lake does happen to drop, it drops to a level that doesn’t starting wreaking propellers and shafts.”
