A GROUP of Burnt Creek farmers have called on water authorities to release environmental flows into the lower reaches of the parched creek.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The group, led by Russell Peucker, said now was the perfect time to put a small environmental flow down the creek to give thirsty red gums a drink and help endangered fish species.
"It's great to see water flowing down McKenzie Creek and the Wimmera River. But while there is water available, rainfall levels are good and the creek bed is already wet, we want Wimmera Catchment Management Authority to use some common sense and put an environmental flow down Burnt Creek," Mr Peucker said.
"The creek would probably be flowing naturally anyway from all the rain we have had if it wasn't diverted at the distribution heads at Laharum."
Mr Peucker said the authority had told him the creek was not part of a State Government agreement on which areas received environmental flows.
"This creek is important to the environment as well," he said. "The red gums are part of the bio- link; the creek can support platypus and blackfish.
"As kids we used to catch so many blackfish here and use the creek as a swimming hole and now it is dry. It hasn't had a flow since 1996."
Wimmera Catchment Management Authority river health and environment water reserve officer Greg Fletcher said he understood the concerns of the landowners along Burnt Creek but said an environmental flow simply wasn't possible this season.
"The annual water plan governs who and what gets environmental flows and it is in conjunction with the Department for Sustainability and Environment - unfortunately Burnt Creek is not currently in that plan," Mr Fletcher said.
"There's a limited number of rivers and creeks which can be included in the plan annually, depending on how much water is available. We need to make sure we conserve enough water for the next year.
"But we have conducted studies on Burnt Creek before and it could become a part of the annual water plan in the future and get environmental flows.
"Burnt Creek is suffering, as are a lot of creeks."
Mr Peucker said he wanted the authority and the government to be more flexible.
