Review: The management of Loch Garry during the floods of October 2022 has been criticised by many landholders in the area for amplifying the impact of the flooding.
The committee reviewing the structure and operation of Loch Garry, a key flood mitigation tool in the region, says it is close to agreeing on a new set of rules for its management.
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The loch, near Bunbartha, helps provide protection from minor to moderate flooding from the Goulburn River for downstream landowners, but is opened during larger events to allow flood flows to follow their natural course.
Many people living on the floodplain below the loch have claimed the impact of last October’s floods was bigger and more widespread because of mismanagement in the lead-up to the flooding.
The Loch Garry Reference Committee was appointed in January and made up of local and state government agency and community representatives.
In its fourth meeting, on Tuesday, May 23, the committee discussed the operating rules, pricing, future service strategy and the committee’s terms of reference.
Goulburn-Murray Water said discussions focused on recommendations around the operating rules and how they would be shared with Loch Garry customers, the engagement approach on pricing and development of the future service strategy at the completion of the review.
Productive meeting: John Pettigrew.
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Committee member John Pettigrew said the meeting had been productive.
“As a committee we are very close to agreement on the new operating rules that take into consideration the nature of last year’s flood,” he said.
“Customers of the Loch Garry Flood Protection District will have the opportunity to review and comment on the proposed rule changes.
“The committee welcomes the commencement of works to repair levee breaches over coming months.”
G-MW started site preparatory works for levee repair on Monday, May 22 and expects to complete the works by late June or early July, depending on weather conditions.
The levee blew out during the October 2022 floods when G-MW was unable to remove bars from the loch.
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