Aireys Inlet and Fairhaven Water Supply
The decision has been made to provide water to Aireys Inlet and Fairhaven via an 11 km pipeline from Anglesea and to decommission the water treatment plant rather than upgrade it. After three public meetings and numerous consultants reports, the board made its decision known to the community on 22 August.
Throughout the consultation period AIDA attempted to keep its members informed and sought additional information from Barwon Water. The information was relayed to members via email. We are grateful to a member with extensive hydrology experience (Rory Nathan) for his analysis of the two options for AIDA members.
In the August press release, Barwon Water proposed establishing a community group to investigate opportunities for future public use of the Painkalac Reservoir. Subsequently, it advertised for eight to ten representatives from a range of sectors including residents, businesses, as well as community and environmental groups, to join four Barwon Water members in an advisory group called the Painkalac Reservoir Community and Agency Group (PRCAG). Expressions of interest closed 31 October. An AIDA committee member has applied. In the terms of reference for the PRCAG, it was made plain that
‘. . . environmental flow management will not be considered’ by the group. Rather ‘a dedicated agency group will be established to review environmental flow management’. AIDA will contact Barwon Water to seek additional information about this group and to request that it include an AIDA representative.
Gary Johnson