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BRIGHT - POREPUNKAH OREPUNKAH
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THE ALPINE
- MT BEAUTY - TAWONGA - TAWONGA SOUTH Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Phone: (03) 5752 1058
www.alpineobserver.com.au
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GIVE GENEROUSLY Bright RSL president Philip Keeghan and Jane Harvey are some of the many volunteers who are seeking donations and selling items for the ANZAC Appeal in the lead up to April 25. Story page 8
Page 2
GARDEN’S AUTUMN JOY
PHOTO: Brodie Everist
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CAFE DUMU’S LAST DAY
Going with the flow? Life Saving g Victoria recommends water flow studies for p pool,, but no mention in council report p WATER flow patterns should be studied at the Bright River Pool before the cessation of dredging or the removal of weir boards, a Life Saving Victoria (LSV) report has recommended. A September 2023 Aquatic Risk Assessment of the Bright River Pool, obtained through a freedom of information request, recommends an environmental impact study and hydrodynamic modelling studies to understand potential impact on water flow patterns due to the cessation of dredging and removal of the pool’s weir boards. “Life Saving Victoria advises that the environmental impact of these changes should be assessed through an environmental impact study, conducted alongside public consulta-
BY BRODIE EVERIST beverist@ nemedia.com.au
tions, to evaluate their full effects on the river’s ecosystem and community usage,” it says. “Swift water conditions present a separate set of safety concerns, including the heightened complexity of rescues and an increased risk of drowning. “Hydrodynamic modelling studies are recommended to understand the full implications of these changes on water flow.” Last October Alpine Shire councillors rejected a recommendation to remove the jumping board and cease dredging at the pool, and instead vot-
ed for an alternative motion to seek further statistics for a later council decision. According to the risk assessment, the council was provided with a copy of it over a month before that meeting, yet the report to councillors failed to mention the recommendation for water flow studies, despite listing five other recommendations that all appear in the risk assessment. The assessment said the likelihood of drowning or severe injury is ‘almost certain’ at the jumping board, and recommends its removal. However, Life Saving Victoria have confirmed the risk assessment is based on an undredged river, despite the pool being routinely dredged near the board to ensure a safe depth
WŚŽŶĞ ĨŽƌ ĂŶ ĂƉƉŽŝŶƚŵĞŶƚ͕ ĐĂůů ŝŶ ƚŽ ŽƵƌ DLJƌƚůĞĨŽƌĚ ŽĸĐĞ Žƌ ǀŝƐŝƚ ŽƵƌ ǁĞďƐŝƚĞ ĨŽƌ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ ŽŶ ƉƌĞͲƉůĂŶŶŝŶŐ LJŽƵƌ ĨƵŶĞƌĂů ĂƌƌĂŶŐĞŵĞŶƚƐ ĂŶĚ ĨƵŶĞƌĂů ďŽŶĚƐ͘
for jumping. Andy Dennis, general manager of training and aquatic industry at LSV, confirmed to the Alpine Observer that “the premise of the report was the ceasing of dredging at the beginning of the summer period”, and said if the pool is not dredged the jumping board is too shallow, significantly increasing risk. The risk assessment said statistics indicate the jumping board is “a significant risk factor”, however, this should be weighed against its popularity and the recreational value it adds to the river pool. “The board’s removal may lead to a decline in visitor numbers, which could have economic implications for the local area,” the assessment says.
According to the risk assessment, Alpine Shire Council had identified the depth of the water, particularly in areas over 4 metres deep, as a significant safety concern. Using data sourced from Belgravia Leisure, the risk assessment shows that over the 2022-23 season, consisting of 37 days, there were 32 rescue incidents involving 50 people. On one day 10 rescues were performed. Further data from Belgravia Leisure shows 46 per cent of rescues were conducted near the jumping board, while another 42 per cent took place in deep water, particularly towards the river’s right-hand side. Alpine Shire Council were contacted for comment but did not respond before deadline.
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