Thread: Damming the Aberfeldy River

Damming the Aberfeldy River is obviously an option that has to be considered for improving Melbourne's water supply. Regarding environmental flows, dams can allow better outcomes than totally natural conditions. They can act as a buffer against damaging flood peaks. Timing and amounts of flow can sometimes adjusted to serve the environment better than some rain events. Especially allowing increased flows in droughts.

Apparently only a relatively short tunnel would be required to allow water from the Aberfeldy River to supplement the Thomson system.

In normal seasons the percentage of river flow held back in a dam need not necessarily be high. However, major flood events, as has occurred recently in Gippsland can save a lot of water that would run to waste, often causing damage in the process. This water can then allow increased supply during drier periods.

Human needs for water have to be balanced against those for the environment. Unfortunately Labor Party policy on it seems to be designed to catch so called "green" votes in the city rather than responsible environmental management. Look at the idiotic costly and environmentally disasterous schemes thay are pursuing! With the pipe taking water from the Goulburn River to Melbourne, when Melbourne storages are low, usually there is a more severe shortage north of the dividing range. See www.plugthepipe.com.

It is also morally despicable implementing a "quick fix solutions for Melbourne's water shortage by taking water that rightfully belongs to communities and the environment in the Murray Darling Basin.

A desalination plant as the Victorian State Govt is proposing at Wonthaggi will be very expensive to build. Also very costly to run for the water produced by it and the environmental resources required and damage done. Would be far better and cheaper to further clean up and reuse a similar amount of water from Melbourne that goes through the south east treatment plant and is then piped to the ocean rather than getting salt and other impurities out of sea water.

The Liberal Party as the possible Government after the next election has to carefully consider options for improving water supplies. This includes possible new dams on the Gellibrand River in the Otways, the Mitchell in East Gippsland, the Buffalo River in North East Victoria and probably others as well as one on the Aberfeldy River.

Mick

And what Liberal seat are you running for, what a load of crap, one of the richest gold areas in Australia, one of the most historic areas, what about the 4WD and buswalking community, what about the total destruction of wildlife habitat. It really worries me when the Libs start talking about the environment, course you know they are going to stuff it well and truly up, because Big Business that owns and runs the Libs only get keen on something that is going to line their pockets, Regards Frank.

We do not seem to learn from our mistakes - issues with the Murray and the Snowy have shown that the natural flows and flood/drought patterns are important to the health of our rivers.

Damage caused by floods is a human issue only - the rich soils of the coastal areas are a result of floods and bringing soil and nutrients to the flood plains - I feel sorry for people who do get flooded but maybe if we took into account the flood cycles and built accordingly I am sure the environment and people would be better off.

However, balancing that is the need for water for the cities and I certainly do not have the answers for that - all I know is that we have to be smarter in what we grow, how we manage water supplies and how we do manage the environment.

I am not a greenie by any means - but we cannot continue to exploit our` resources and not give much back.

Garry

Originally Posted by mox

It is also morally despicable implementing a "quick fix solutions for Melbourne's water shortage by taking water that rightfully belongs to communities and the environment in the Murray Darling Basin.

A desalination plant as the Victorian State Govt is proposing at Wonthaggi will be very expensive to build. Also very costly to run for the water produced by it and the environmental resources required and damage done. Would be far better and cheaper to further clean up and reuse a similar amount of water from Melbourne that goes through the south east treatment plant and is then piped to the ocean rather than getting salt and other impurities out of sea water.
Mick

Let me tell you one thing Mox.
Gippslanders, (me being one of them) are absolutely fed up with Melbourne raping our resources and getting stuff all in return.
Build the Desal plant and let Melburnians pay for it I say. Drinking recycled turds is too good for the would be Pollies who would vote for this. they probably only drink Perrier with a twist of Lemon anyhow.
I would love to start a Political movement to get Gippsland to Cede from Victoria. Then Melbournians could pay for their Oil, Water and Electricity and Gippslanders would be living like Saudis, Paying for Victorians to come and do the work. Awww crap, now I have to take a chill pill.

Melbourne would have plenty of water if there was less people. I for one do not want another 1 million people in Melbourne as per the current goverments 20-20 plan.
I say no more dams, no desal, less people.

Ian

Hi everyone
What a interesting topic. As a ex Gippslander living in melbourne. Still consider Gippsland home thou. About 30 years ago the government of the day decided to dam the Mitchell river at angusvale. a beautiful big access road was designed and built. Fencing was in place for the guy who had 2 km's of private land near the road. The government changed after election and you guessed it no more dam project. by the way the government that stopped the dam consruction was LABOR.

Poor old Gippsland and the Goulburn regions always cop one in the clacker by the government and the do gooders.

The Thomson river downstream from the dam and below Cowwar weir is dead. Years ago we could go fishing for redfin or trout now we are hard pushed to get carp. (not that we want them).

Best solution is limit the number of people coming into Australia and more so the Melbourne area. Best solution is to say to the people we have x amount of water once thats gone bad luck you will need to deal with it.

I have always said if a country was to invade Australia from the south all they need to do is to knock out the oil rigs, gas plant and power stations the people of melbourne would kill each other not having services.

As for a desal plant great idea. even recycled black or grey water wouldnt hurt.

Basically the idiots in powerand the do gooders need to wake up to themselves

This has been a paid policital announcement on behalf of the anti tree huggers and born and bred white aussies.

Typical do-gooders trying to improve the ecosystem
They have so much arrogance that they think that know better than Mother Nature

Bugger here is going my blood pressure up again

Want more water? Install water tanks for every roof in Melbourne with first flush facilities and you wouldn't have a water problem, Regards Frank.