THE State Government’s plan to manage the water flows into Coorong has raised the ire of Federal MP Tony Pasin, with the Member for Barker expressing concern about any proposal to divert water out of the South East.
The state’s Project Coorong action plan outlines a number of planned activities to restore and revitalise the Coorong, described by Environment and Water Minister David Speirs as being in a “degraded state.”
One of the potential infrastructure projects flagged for discussion is augmenting flows to the Coorong with additional water from the South East which currently flows out to sea via Lake George.
Mr Pasin said historically, discussion relating to increasing the amount of water diverted from the South East from the Coorong had raised significant community concern in the region.
He said extensive community consultation should be undertaken if the State Government explored augmentation as an option.
“It is important landowners are engaged because, sadly, the experiences with the South East flows project previously did not involve landholder engagement,” Mr Pasin said.
“I remain concerned about any proposal which would seek to divert water from the South East to the Coorong but my primary concern at this stage is landowners who have a direct interest in any proposed changes.”
Member for MacKillop Nick McBride, whose electorate comprises both the South East and parts of the Coorong, said the diversion of water from the south to the north “could have implications for a range of landholders” in the region.
But Mr Speirs said the action plan presented a range of short, medium and long-term on-ground works, scientific trials and investigations, management tools and infrastructure activities proposed by the government as part of the $70m Project Coorong.
The minister is currently on leave and was not available for comment but a State Government spokesperson said the action plan focused on a wide range of issues around flow management.
The spokesperson said community consultation sessions would be held in the region in October and encouraged residents to comment on the action plan.
