Wednesday, 22 March 2023

 Wayne FARNHAM (Narracan) (19:15): (117) The action I seek today is from the Minister for Environment, and it relates to the tiny township of Walhalla. Walhalla is a town of less than 20 residents, but it faces a huge environmental problem with over 100,000 visitors per year to the popular tourist destination and no solution to manage sewerage in the community. Six years ago a working group was set up to look at the issue, but since then little or no action has been done. Because of the unique nature of the community, management of anything in the town is complex. Management of the area is complex with the significant number of departments and groups involved – Parks Victoria, West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, Regional Roads Victoria, Heritage Victoria, Baw Baw Shire Council, Gippsland Water, Walhalla Board of Management and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action. Often volunteer groups within the community are being left to deal with the complex issues that should be the responsibility of the relevant departments, not volunteers who should be working in their local businesses.

Sewerage and management of the local river system has for a long time been an issue, but increased tourism is rapidly becoming an issue and threatens the future of the town. With more visitors comes more pressure on the existing system to cope with effluent flows. The concern is that the existing septic system cannot cope with the effluent and it is leaking into the river system that supports the town. I am certain, having spoken to locals, that a solution can be found. Technology is being developed that would allow for a localised processing plant to service the town, meeting the needs of both residents and visitors. Another option is connectivity to a plant in the nearby town of Rawson. Intervention from the government is critical because of the complex nature of the management of the region. Minister, I ask you urgently to investigate what can be done to support the Walhalla community and ensure that their future is not put at risk by further inaction from the government. In the year 2023 I do not think any community in regional Victoria should be up you-know-what creek.