Wednesday, 18 October 2023

 Emma KEALY (Lowan) (09:48): I have a matter to raise with the Minister for Environment, who I am asking to urgently intervene on a matter regarding trees that have fallen into the Wimmera River at Dimboola. For many years – decades, actually – community have always managed the river exceptionally well when there have been trees that have fallen into that area. However, they have been held up this time around. They cannot clear these trees for reasons that Parks Victoria have identified there may be some cultural heritage issues, but nobody is making a decision. This of course has local implications. The Dimboola Regatta will be going ahead in early November, on the 11th and 12th of November, but the community cannot clear these trees. It is putting a community event at risk – and also the national barefoot waterskiing at night competition, which happens in March every year in Dimboola. So I ask the minister to intervene to get a decision made to clear the trees – how this can be done, what approvals need to take place – but just to make a decision and let this community get on with using the river as they always have, which is in a very respectful way.