WIMMERA water corporation GWMWater has told a Victorian parliamentary inquiry into fire season preparedness that its Grampians reservoirs could be hit by side-effects from burning off.
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Parliament’s Environment and Planning Committee, which includes Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney, in investigating preventative burning by government agencies and Parks Victoria.
GWMWater managing director Mark Williams stated in a submission to the inquiry that management of water catchments, including planned burns, had effects on water quality.
“Our Grampians located water supply catchments are particularly susceptible to to fire where our reservoir catchments for Lake Wartook and Lake Bellfield are predominately National Park,” Mr Williams said.
“Large scale, hot fires in these catchments can result in bare ground that is subject to soil erosion and increased risk of poor water quality flowing into our reservoirs.”
Mr Williams called for co-operation between GWMWater and government firefighting organisations to protect the public though planned fuel reduction burns while preserving water quality.
“The management of reservoir catchments to achieve fuel reduction and water quality objectives requires good science to help inform management decisions,” Mr Williams said.
“This requires and investment in research from a range of stakeholders, including government.
“GWMWater would welcome the opportunity to contribute to planning a research program that can inform catchment management objectives in our western Victorian water supply catchments.”
Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning Grampians Region Assistant Chief Fire Officer Rachaele May said consideration of GWMWater's submission was a matter for the parliamentary inquiry.
"The department is working with our partners in the emergency management sector, and our stakeholders to ensure Victoria is best placed to deal with the ongoing threat of bushfires,” she said.
“The department works with GWMWater in managing impacts of fire and reducing fire risk in water catchments on public land.”
The inquiry has been ordered to report to parliament’s upper house no later than December 8, 2016.
As of Monday, the committee was prepared to accept late submissions for the planned burn inquiry.
For more information, phone the Committee Secretariat on 03 8682 2869 or email epc@parliament.vic.gov.au