Liam McNally
A Bacchus Marsh bush regenerator has raised concerns pollution entering the Werribee River from council-owned land could be endangering local wildlife.
Friends of Werribee River through Bacchus Marsh president Ben Courtice said earlier in the month he noticed water entering the Werribee River from the Maddingley Park drain when it hadn’t been raining, and that it looked like “somebody had spewed in it”.
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) confirmed it has been investigating sediment entering the river, and has been in contact with Moorabool council.
Moorabool council chief executive Derek Madden said council staff are aware of discharge coming from the Bacchus Marsh Racecourse Reserve development and are working to ensure “any shortfalls within the sediment controls are immediately fixed”.
Mr Courtice said the “milky colour” turbid water entering the water can have “serious impact” on biodiversity in the river.
“Turbidity blocks light, and when it settles it smothers things on the bottom so it really affects the life in the river right up to the platypus that live there … It is a serious pollution issue,” he said.
“Having council do it is kind of like adding insult to injury, because we’ve been really worn down, this is a constant thing, usually from developers who have not properly secured their sites with sediment barriers.”
Mr Madden said council is working with Melbourne Water and the EPA to undertake audits of sediment control and “rectify any problems urgently”.
EPA southwest regional manager Carolyn Francis the flow of sediment has been stopped.
“EPA is looking into the extent and source of the flow, and whether any other regulatory actions are needed,” she said.
“Reports and pictures provided by members of the public have been helpful in the investigation.”
Members of the public can report pollution by calling EPA’s 24-hour hotline or providing details online.
Details: epa.vic.gov.au/report-pollution/reporting-pollution or 1300 372 842
