Committee to consider future groundwater management for Lower Campaspe Valley

A new Consultative Committee has been appointed to develop a plan to manage groundwater resources in the Lower Campaspe Valley.

Goulburn-Murray Water (G-MW) Acting Managing Director Shane McGrath said the Committee was made up of local residents, including irrigators and domestic and stock users, environmental representatives and government agency specialists.  

"The appointment of the Consultative Committee follows the declaration of the Lower Campaspe Valley Water Supply Protection Area (WSPA) in June 2010," said Mr McGrath.   

The Lower Campaspe Valley WSPA extends from Lake Eppalock in the south to the Murray River in the north and incorporates the townships of Goornong, Elmore, Rochester and Echuca and includes regions previously known as the Campaspe Deep Lead WSPA and Southern Campaspe Plains Groundwater Management Area.

"Significant technical work was undertaken as part of a review of the former Campaspe Deep Lead WSPA Groundwater Management Plan, which led to the declaration of the Lower Campaspe Valley WSPA, an area which better recognises the lower Campaspe deep lead aquifer system," Mr McGrath said.

"The outcomes and recommendations from this review will be central to the development of a new groundwater management plan," said Mr McGrath.

"The Management Plan will ensure groundwater resources are managed in an equitable and sustainable manner.  The Consultative Committee will need to consider a range of management issues, including establishing trigger levels and associated seasonal restrictions, arrangements for transfer and carryover of water entitlements, monitoring and reporting requirements," Mr McGrath said.

"The Committee will take into account the economic, environmental and social values for the area, so the make-up of the Committee as well as extensive community consultation will be crucial to achieving this," said Mr McGrath.

"There will be a number of opportunities for the wider community to have input to the development of the plan and a draft document will be released for public comment," Mr McGrath said.

The Lower Campaspe Valley WSPA Consultative Committee includes:

The Consultative Committee and its development of a new Management Plan will be supported by G-MW and the Department of Sustainability and Environment. 

For further information please contact Brendan Cossens at G-MW on phone 0408 527 735.

-ENDS-

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