The window to give comment on the Victorian Murray Floodplains Restoration Project’s $40 million flooding concept closes Wednesday, September 16.
“This is the first opportunity, but by no means the last, to formally suggest any changes to the planning and construction parts of the projects,” VMFRP east project manager Tim Shanahan said.
“From here, the relevant ministers will determine what approvals pathway they want in the development stages of the projects.”
The plan for Gunbower forest is to introduce a more natural flooding regime, delivering water across approximately 704 hectares of “high ecological value” land by limiting spill-over in the overwatered upper forest and maximising natural flood water in the dry middle forest.
This will be achieved by constructing new infrastructure and modifying the existing set-up within the Murray River Reserve, Gunbower National Park, private land, and the National Channel.
To improve environmental outcomes without buying more water off farmers, the VMFRP will build:
● 12 small regulators
● a fishway
● three pipelines
● two pump stations
● a channel upgrade
● a drop structure
● three culvert crossings
● two drainage outlets
● access track upgrades
● erosion control works, and
● a series of containment banks and diverts to retain and divert natural flood water into the forest
Mr Shanahan said the VMFRP was working with the Gunbower Island Community Reference Group (a North Central CMA conduit) and the Koondrook Development Committee for their community consultations.
“If there’s a better way to not only keep these forests alive, but restore them to better health, continue to be an asset to our communities and efficiently deliver water to the floodplain while keeping irrigation water in the region, we’d be happy to have it presented to us,” he said.
Similar plans for the Guttrum and Benwell state forests, which lie downstream from Barham near Campbell’s Island, are also open to comment.
The referral documents can be found at: (Gunbower referral number: 2020/8771. Guttrum and Benwell referral number: 2020/8754)http://epbcnotices.environment.gov.au/publicnoticesreferrals/
There is also a second 10-day window to comment on the plans once they're published on: (Guttrum and Benwell: 2020-R15, Gunbower yet to be published)https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/environment-assessment/referrals-and-decisions
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