June 10, 2011 Ref: 12/11 QUARRY WATER TO BENEFIT MOORABOOL RIVER The Victorian Coalition Government has reached an agreement to return additional water to the Moorabool River from the Batesford Quarry west of Geelong. Water Minister Peter Walsh said under the deal the river would receive an additional eight megalitres a day. The agreement was made between Adelaide Brighton Cement Limited (ABCL), the Victorian Government, Corangamite CMA, Environment Protection Agency and Southern Rural Water. the agreement, groundwater accumulated at the quarry will be discharged to the lower “Under Moorabool River instead of Walsh said. Corio Bay,” Mr will improve the health of the Lower Moorabool and Barwon rivers and improve “This recreational opportunities for local communities. Moorabool River has an average annual environmental flow shortfall of 17,500 megalitres, “The while the lower Barwon River at Geelong has a shortfall of 2,200 megalitres.” Mr Walsh commended the co-operative approach taken by quarry managers ABCL and the Victorian Government agencies involved. Quarry is located next to the Moorabool River, about 10 kilometres upstream of the “Batesford Barwon River Mr Walsh said. confluence,” has operated as a limestone quarry since the late 1800s and requires a groundwater “It dewatering regime to operate. will modify a licensing agreement to ensure water previously discharged into the bay “The deal is returned to the river to help address an environmental shortfall. potential for an additional 2,900 megaltires per year from the quarry will help make up the “The flow required for a health waterway and will be particularly important during periods of drought and during summer months for maintaining river and wetland ecology downstream.” The Moorabool flows into the Barwon providing water to the Lower Barwon River including internationally recognised Ramsar-listed lakes and wetlands of Lake Connewarre and Reedy Lake, and Hospital and Salt Swamp.
June 10, 2011 Ref: 12/11 QUARRY WATER TO BENEFIT MOORABOOL RIVER The Victorian Coalition Government has reached an agreement to return additional water to the Moorabool River from the Batesford Quarry west of Geelong. Water Minister Peter Walsh said under the deal the river would receive an additional eight megalitres a day. The agreement was made between Adelaide Brighton Cement Limited (ABCL), the Victorian Government, Corangamite CMA, Environment Protection Agency and Southern Rural Water. “Under the agreement, groundwater accumulated at the quarry will be discharged to the lower Moorabool River instead of Corio Bay,” Mr Walsh said. “This will improve the health of the Lower Moorabool and Barwon rivers and improve recreational opportunities for local communities. “The Moorabool River has an average annual environmental flow shortfall of 17,500 megalitres, while the lower Barwon River at Geelong has a shortfall of 2,200 megalitres.” Mr Walsh commended the co-operative approach taken by quarry managers ABCL and the Victorian Government agencies involved. “Batesford Quarry is located next to the Moorabool River, about 10 kilometres upstream of the Barwon River confluence,” Mr Walsh said. “It has operated as a limestone quarry since the late 1800s and requires a groundwater dewatering regime to operate. “The deal will modify a licensing agreement to ensure water previously discharged into the bay is returned to the river to help address an environmental shortfall. “The potential for an additional 2,900 megaltires per year from the quarry will help make up the flow required for a health waterway and will be particularly important during periods of drought and during summer months for maintaining river and wetland ecology downstream.” The Moorabool flows into the Barwon providing water to the Lower Barwon River including internationally recognised Ramsar-listed lakes and wetlands of Lake Connewarre and Reedy Lake, and Hospital and Salt Swamp.
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