18 September 2008
INVESTING IN MOORABOOL’S WATERWAYS
The new waterways charge paid by about 10,000 Moorabool property owners, combined with proactive landowners, is helping boost the health of local waterways.
Removing weeds, planting trees and giving better protection against flooding are some of the services that Moorabool now receives after Melbourne Water became the overall caretaker for rivers and creeks across an additional 10 municipalities and 5,000km2.
Neighbouring landholders and long-time Ballan locals Joan Young and Vic Brown, whose properties are bordered by the Werribee River, have been working with Melbourne Water to remove weeds from a 1.7-kilometre stretch of the river, revegetate the area with 2,400 native plants and erect three kilometres of fencing.
Joan Young and Vic Brown check out the fencing and vegetation works.
Joan said the weed removal and revegetation was vital to improving the flow of the river, which in turn improved its health.
“I’ve been here 50-odd years and I’ve never seen drought conditions as bad as this. Once a lot of the weeds are cleaned out the river will run a lot better,” she said.
“A lot of people might not realise the works are going on, but we’ve still got to have healthy rivers for everyone.”
Vic, a livestock farmer, said the project was a win-win situation because the river was protected from his stock and the fence allowed him to better control cattle and sheep movement on his property.
“I’ve put in 300 trees so far this year, with the help of a grant, which will provide shelter and shade for our livestock,” he said.
“The weed removal and plantings have improved the overall appearance of the area, particularly along the river.”
The waterways charge came into effect in Moorabool on 1 July this year, however, Melbourne Water has been carrying out some priority works in Moorabool since 2005, including:
- Weed removal and revegetation on a number of properties downstream of the Werribee Gorge State Park with the Pentland Hills Landcare Group;
- Establishing five new long-term water quality sampling sites so we can monitor trends over time and identify pollution sources;
- Providing more than $50,000 in grants to Moorabool Council for Corridors of Green projects and community groups.
The major Moorabool towns subject to the waterways charge are Bacchus Marsh, Ballan, Balliang, Blackwood, Blakeville, Spargo Creek, Beremboke, Myrniong, Greendale, Parwan and Barrys Reef.
The charge is collected on Melbourne Water’s behalf by Western Water and Central Highlands Water.
Melbourne Water General Manager of Waterways, Chris Chesterfield, said the drought had placed more stress on waterways, and these works had never been more important.
“This charge is already paid by about 1.5 million across the Port Phillip and Westernport region and we think it’s a fair and reasonable charge that pays for important services.
“Through stormwater run-off, we all have an impact on waterways, no matter where we live. Our waterways are also the backdrop to a lot of recreational activities - they need to be looked after.”
Mr Chesterfield said future works in Moorabool would include weed control and revegetation along Yaloak Creek in the Rowsley Valley; along the Werribee River on the Moorabool Shire Council Reserve near Hogans Road, Ballan; and along a section of the Lerderderg River, downstream of the Western Freeway near Bacchus Marsh.
For more information on the waterways and drainage charge, visit the Melbourne Water Website or call 131 722.
Media Contact: Nicolas McGay +613 9235 2278 +61 (0)438 981 836