MANY of your readers have concerns about the low levels of water in lake Eppalock.
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Unfortunately, Goulburn-Murray Water continues to spin glib responses - without actually explaining why or where the water is going!
The lake levels fell dramatically in October/November because the "environmental water holders" were releasing from their entitlements at the maximum possible rate "to meet in-stream environmental objectives in the Campaspe River" - with the water then discharging into the River Murray at Echuca for use in South Australia.
Put simply - the water is being drained into the Campaspe for "environmental purposes".
What were these "environmental purposes"?
It is easy to blame G-MW for this.
However, it is the government that authorises these releases.
Under the terms of the G-MW operating licence, there are no minimum levels in Lake Eppalock and G-MW is obliged to supply water if it can be allocated to entitlement holders.
While last year saw below-average rainfall - approximately 440mm of rain when almost 540mm should have been received - the reality is that the "holder" took it upon themselves to release the water, noting that there had been very little demand for irrigation.
Why hasn't the government/G-MW actually explained why the water was released?
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