Successful Mokoan meeting
Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, has welcomed the release of extensive information on the estimated increase in flood risks to Benalla and downstream property owners in the event that Lake Mokoan is decommissioned.
Dr Sykes said, “The information tabled at a briefing by Goulburn Murray Water (GMW) in Shepparton today answers many of the questions which the Victorian Government had previously refused to answer – in spite of repeated requests including requests made under the Freedom of Information Act.
“It is now a matter for the Benalla & District Flood Awareness Group and the Justice for the Broken Valley Group to consider the information in depth.
“On the surface some of our flood risk concerns have been addressed but we need to look more closely at the data.
“For example, the model used to predict flood levels and flood frequencies has been validated against limited actual information – no use has been made of extensive local knowledge and private rainfall records going back for over fifty years.
“We need to have this local information considered and also have a clear understanding of the level of confidence that can be placed in the modelling predictions.
GMW have agreed to do further investigation into:-
• The impact of local runoff entering the Lake bed via the inlet channel;
• The impact of decommissioning the Lake on the increased frequency of over spillway flows from Lake Nillahcootie and resultant uncontrolled floods.
Dr Sykes concluded, “When Parliament resumes next week I will personally thank the new Minister for Water, Tim Holding for bringing about this more open and transparent process.
“I will also thank the Minister for agreeing to meet with the Justice for the Broken Valley Group to listen to their alternative ‘Mini Mokoan’ proposal and seek to have this meeting as soon as possible.
“This battle has been going on for over six years. Favourable resolution of it in the near future would remove one major uncertainty in the lives of local people looking down the barrel of another tough dry 6-12 months.”
Dr Sykes said, “The information tabled at a briefing by Goulburn Murray Water (GMW) in Shepparton today answers many of the questions which the Victorian Government had previously refused to answer – in spite of repeated requests including requests made under the Freedom of Information Act.
“It is now a matter for the Benalla & District Flood Awareness Group and the Justice for the Broken Valley Group to consider the information in depth.
“On the surface some of our flood risk concerns have been addressed but we need to look more closely at the data.
“For example, the model used to predict flood levels and flood frequencies has been validated against limited actual information – no use has been made of extensive local knowledge and private rainfall records going back for over fifty years.
“We need to have this local information considered and also have a clear understanding of the level of confidence that can be placed in the modelling predictions.
GMW have agreed to do further investigation into:-
• The impact of local runoff entering the Lake bed via the inlet channel;
• The impact of decommissioning the Lake on the increased frequency of over spillway flows from Lake Nillahcootie and resultant uncontrolled floods.
Dr Sykes concluded, “When Parliament resumes next week I will personally thank the new Minister for Water, Tim Holding for bringing about this more open and transparent process.
“I will also thank the Minister for agreeing to meet with the Justice for the Broken Valley Group to listen to their alternative ‘Mini Mokoan’ proposal and seek to have this meeting as soon as possible.
“This battle has been going on for over six years. Favourable resolution of it in the near future would remove one major uncertainty in the lives of local people looking down the barrel of another tough dry 6-12 months.”
Powered by ScribeFire.
posted by Greg Naylor at
3:14 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home