A Nhill resident's concerns about the water quality in the Wimmera River at Dimboola have been referred to the state government for investigation.
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Member for Lowan Emma Kealy said she had written to Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D'Ambrosio requesting "urgent intervention to investigate community concerns".
"The community concerns need to be taken seriously and treated as a priority," she said.
In her letter dated March 11 Ms Kealy said: "Local residents have described a distinct change in water quality commencing from near the Horsham Rifle Club and strong sewerage odours at the Dimboola Weir.
"Concerns have been raised with my office regarding the possibility of sewerage from the Horsham Wastewater Treatment Plant and/or private discharge being released into the Wimmera River.
"The dark-coloured and slimy water at Dimboola has impacted local fishing and tourist activities, with a number of local fishermen reporting unusually dark-coloured yellowbelly being caught and returned to the water due to fear of e-coli contamination.
"I am aware this significant environmental matter has been raised with the Wimmera River Catchment Management Authority, GWM Water, and the Environment Protection Authority, however community concerns remain unresolved."
Hindmarsh Shire Council mayor Rob Gersch said council was meeting with the Wimmera CMA at the end of March to look at water quality at Jeparit and Dimboola in various areas.
"There have been some concerns shown by some of the people in Dimboola about the erosion and the environmental situation with the river," he said.
"But that's not so much on the smell of the water, I haven't heard that one.
"This is more just on the standard of the river and the banks."
Cr Gersch said the management of the river was always contested, especially in regards to the use for water-skiing.
"There are some people that are just concerned about the environment," he said.
"And then there are others who don't feel the ski club is very responsible, which they are but there is natural damage done when you use ski boats."
The Dimboola Boat and Water Ski Club cancelled the Peter Taylor Memorial Tournament that was due to be held on Saturday on the advice of local government and health authorities due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A spokesman from GWM Water denied that any wastewater had been released into the Wimmera River.
"We catch and treat waste water near the (Horsham) Golf Club," he said.
"The Golf Club use some and Grains Innovation Park have storage near Natimuk Road where they take what is required for watering pasture and crops."
A spokesman from EPA Victoria said testing had been carried out on the Wimmera River in Dimboola and the results did not raise any concerns.