THE Environmental Protection Authority is poised to make a decision on a penalty for Goulburn Murray Water for its involvement in hundreds of fish deaths in the Loddon River.
The water authority released an environmental flow into the river on March 10 for stock and domestic purposes, overflowing the Serpentine Weir.
The Salisbury West Landcare Group said they discovered “hundreds of dead native fish and carp” days later.
The EPA can fine organisations up to $240,000 for offences under pollution provisions of the Environment Protection Act.
An EPA investigation found between 100 and 120 dead fish including Murray cod, golden perch and European carp on March 16 about three kilometres from the Serpentine Weir.
The fish were found scattered over two kilometres.
EPA Bendigo manager Jeff Cummins said yesterday that the water authority had met with the EPA last week.
“We’ve now got a much better understanding on what went on, but a decision on any sort of penalty has to be made at the Melbourne office,” he said.
The Advertiser reported on April 8 that landowners were up in arms about the fish deaths.
“They should have never done it,” Salisbury West Landcare Group secretary John Vanston said at the time.
“Nobody was told about it.
“The river has been getting replenished with fish and then they go and do something like this.”
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