Express MIDLAND
www.midlandexpress.com.au
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Creek safety concerns
Monegeetta cattle farmers Jan, Lucy and India Ansell Ravnholt are concerned about the health of the creek.
Amy Hume Farmers are demanding answers following the release of Class B recycled water into Deep Creek across Romsey and surrounds. Greater Western Water announced on Wednesday, sustained heavy rainfall had led to "a significant rise in water held in storage at the Romsey Recycled Water Plant". It follows Coliban Water sewer spills in the Kyneton are earlier this month. GWW warned controlled releases would begin the next day and continue until the storage returned to its normal operating capacity. Farmers fronting the creek told the Express the short notice moments before a long weekend has caused headaches in preparing their properties. They said the move also broke an agreement with landholders to give at least 14 days notice before any recycled water release. The agreement came after a proposed recycled water
release in 2019 that landholders challenged and successfully stopped. While Class B recycled water is thought safe for cattle and other uses, farmers were left uncertain about risks and dilution levels. Monegeetta cattle farmer Jan Ravnholt said the disregard for landholders was "appalling" and GWW couldn't be trusted. "In doing this, they have deliberately ignored what they had agreed to in writing," he told the Express. "How do I know it's safe? They say they are monitoring the creek but there's a lot of data that we don't have access to. "Any plans I had were cancelled and I had to organise water and move cattle. We're in calving season and I can't risk them being around the creek. If you saw the water, you wouldn't let anyone near it. Only time will tell how much damage it will do." GWW said it notified EPA Victoria that "this temporary release was necessary" and "will be monitoring closely for any impacts of this release on the environment or human
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health". They said discharging excess recycled water from storage helps to reduce any potential for uncontrolled overflows and protects the recycled water plant infrastructure. Accredited Angus breeder Gerard Belleville's Woodlands property is one of the largest impacted, fronting the creek at the release entry point. Located east of the Romsey township, it runs about 600 head of cattle and supports a live export breeding program. He said he was forced to relocate stock at the last minute with no guarantee they would be safe accessing the creek. "They did not contact me, I contacted them when I heard about it from a neighbour. I was shocked by the short notice," he told the Express. "We use the creek water for stock and domestic purposes. I carry about 48 hours of drinking water for the stock and then I need to act. Continued page 4
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