Lake Eildon
David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:21): (285) My question is to the Minister for Water. Minister, communities downstream of Lake Eildon have been concerned and extremely anxious about the high level of the lake, currently at 97.4 per cent capacity. With only one significant rain event, the lake would be full. With the rain over the last 24 hours, together with what is forecast in the coming days, Goulburn–Murray Water are expecting 100-megalitre inflows, which will bring the lake to 100 per cent capacity. Minister, what releases are expected, and what warnings have Goulburn–Murray Water put in place for local landowners?
Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Housing, Minister for Water, Minister for Equality) (12:21): Thank you very much for that question, Mr Davis, and I really appreciate the opportunity to provide some information about the work that is happening to assist communities, to assist customers and to assist people who are downstream of both Lake Eildon and Lake Eppalock. As you quite rightly pointed out, we have seen significant rainfall events. It is a time of extreme anxiety and distress for communities who around this time last year were in the process of preparing for very significant rainfall. Indeed we saw extensive spill events, and we also continue that work to partner with communities and to work alongside catchment management authorities, water authorities and a range of emergency, frontline and data collection agencies.
Mr Davis, it is important to note also, as we gather the information in real time around that modelling and what future rainfall events look like, that we enable that information to be disseminated accurately. There are daily reports about the volume of our water storages, and as you would be aware, Mr Davis, Lake Eppalock is a lake with three crested spillways. Again, when and as that lake reaches capacity, it is then going to spill and that water will come down from there. Also noting the rainfall which has been forecast is in a process of movement, it is really important that we are aware that rainfall will affect different parts of the state, of the catchment system, in different ways.
When it comes to Lake Eildon and when it comes to the work that is being done to provide people with information about what is happening on the ground, Goulburn–Murray Water has actually been calling landholders to advise them of moderate flooding and will continue to engage with people, including by reference to information from the Bureau of Meteorology, the SES, frontline responders and, as necessary, incident control centre work. This is where controlled releases are being developed with options available. I am looking forward to being able to provide really accurate information, rather than speculation at this point in time, based on that data, but Goulburn–Murray Water is working really hard to minimise risk and damage and to provide customers, landholders and communities with accurate information, including by way of information before any releases take place.
David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:25): That was not really, President, a satisfactory answer. It did not answer what releases are expected, and it did not really explain how the warnings would occur. Nonetheless, Minister, this morning none of the information on the Goulburn–Murray Water website was current. The hotline was not updated at 9 am. Local landowners have been communicating between themselves due to the lack of information provided by agencies under your responsibility. As you are aware, 12 months on from the devastating floods, together with the continued warnings, why have you failed to ensure that communities actually know?
Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Housing, Minister for Water, Minister for Equality) (12:25): Mr Davis, 12 months on we are working to ensure that interoperability is at the heart of what we do in preparing communities, in providing information and in the way in which information is made available in accessible and easily digestible formats to a range of audiences and communities. Goulburn–Murray Water is working alongside the SES and Bureau of Meteorology. These are collaborative efforts, Mr Davis. Goulburn–Murray Water, as I indicated in my answer to the substantive question, has been contacting landowners today and will continue to work alongside landowners and agencies such as the Bureau of Meteorology and the SES. Mr Davis, this is a really tough time for communities. I am under no illusions about the impact of last year’s floods on where we find ourselves now, and I have made it very clear that my priority on this is making sure that communities have the information they need to make the decisions that are right for them.