Wednesday, 31 August 2022

Petitions

Following petition presented to house by Clerk:

Curdies River management

The petition of residents Victoria draws to the attention of the House the urgent plight of the Curdies River Catchment located on Eastern Maar Country in Victoria’s south-west. After decades of neglect and poor stewardship, the Curdies is at a crisis point. The river’s health has worsened to the point where it is suffering recurrent and worsening blue-green algae blooms, mass fish kills, and the overall degradation of a fragile ecosystem with devastating impacts on rare and protected bird and fish species. There are extensive impacts on the local economy: farmers, commercial fisheries, tourism, and recreational users; alongside threats to the health and wellbeing of local residents and their communities.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Assembly of Victoria:

We require relevant Ministers to approve an urgent Remediation Action Plan for the Curdies River Catchment. The Plan will strengthen stewardship and accountability by vesting overall responsibility on one statutory agency, and deliver the actions needed to restore the river’s health in the immediate and long terms. It will involve robust participation of local communities including Traditional Owners and organisations like Landcare. The plan will specify timelines, targets, and how funding and responsibility is allocated to statutory and/or other organisations. This will deliver a program of rapid and coordinated actions to regenerate and maintain the health and bio-cultural values of the Curdies River Catchment for the benefit of all Victorians.

By Mr RIORDAN (Polwarth) (582 signatures).

Tabled.

Ordered that petition be considered next day on motion of Mr RIORDAN (Polwarth).