QUAMBATOOK residents are calling for the return of water to the town’s main river.
The Avoca River, which flows along the eastern edge of the town, is running dry after benefiting from significant rainfall at the start of summer.
The town’s weir pool group action group – which is a sub-committee of the Lions Club of Quambatook – has been working for the past 12 months to ensure the river receives sufficient water to keep the river flowing throughout the district.
“We believe what is happening in the Avoca is similar to what is occurring in the Darling River,” action group assistant secretary, Ken Espagne said.
“If you look on Google Maps you will see there are around 20 to 30 dams nearby to the river, and none of this water is heading downstream.
“If there is a couple of millimetres of rainfall in the catchment, all it does is fill these dams and there is no flow-on downstream.”
The group initially liaised with North Central Catchment Management Authority and Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water regarding its plight, but have now turned their attention to Water Minister, Lisa Neville.
The group will write to the State Government calling for a constant flow for one of the region’s major waterways, which flows downstream into the Koorangie Wildlife Reserve.
“Hopefully we will get some action, or at least someone will look into providing a steady flow for the river,” Mr Espagne said.
North Central Catchment Management Authority’s floodplain manager Camille White confirmed the waterway is reliant on rainflow and floodwaters to regulate flows and keep the river system healthy, with the variable climate affecting the river.
“Across the catchment and the state there are communities just like Quambatook who have struggled with the impacts that changing weather and rainfall patterns have on the waterways that flow through their towns,” she said.
“When it comes to water for the environment, it is delivered to regulated rivers and wetlands across the state where a compelling ecological case can be made. Water then needs to be found, paid for, and delivered.
“Donald and Boort are towns in the region that have recently received a water allocation, not for environmental reasons, but for recreation purposes. In Donald’s case, water was donated, and at Boort, the community purchased water.”
