The Victorian Government has announced an independent review into water quality issues at the Anglesea River.

 

Environment and Climate Change Minister Ryan Smith ordered the investigation following community concerns about the health of the popular waterway.

 

Mr Smith said the review would examine acidity levels in the river and make recommendations on measures to improve water quality.

 

“While the levels improved following rises recorded last year it is important that we get a clear understanding of what caused this activity and what can be done about it,” Mr Smith said.

 

An Environment Protection Authority (EPA) investigation has previously found that water in the river had become too acidic for fish after a cycle of the drying of soils in the upper catchment through the drought, followed by flushing from heavy rains.

 

While the EPA’s work suggested that the changes in acid levels were naturally occurring, the Government believes the issue warrants closer examination.

 

Mr Smith said the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) would co-ordinate the review led by Deakin University’s Associate Professor John Sherwood.

 

The review will build on the EPA’s finding by:

  • reviewing the history of acid events in the Anglesea estuary;
  • identifying sources of acidic water and metals to the estuary;
  • investigating the role of specific factors that are of concern to the community, such as, the role of land-use in the catchment, licensed discharge into the river and water extraction; and
  • reviewing options for remediation of poor quality water originating from the catchment.

The review will lead to strategies for improving the health of the Anglesea River and these strategies will be fed into the local response plan being prepared by the Surf Coast Shire and Corangamite Catchment Management Authority.  The review will also provide relevant information for their review of the Anglesea Estuary Management Plan.

 

The independent review will be conducted over a period of two months and its findings are expected to be completed by June 2011.