WATER FLOWS CAN’T BE GAUGED
To the Editor,
The latest revelations again highlight flawed priorities in the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. Concerns from one end of the system to the other have been raised about flow data, including inaccuracies and broken or inefficient infrastructure.
In South Australia, landholders say they have “lost all faith” in the flow data which has been relied upon to keep families safe in times of high-water flow and have implored authorities to “listen to the community” who “know a lot more” because they have generations of lived experience.
Meanwhile, we hear reports that vital flow measuring equipment in upstream regions failed during the 2022 flood, when it was most needed. In the Goulburn system, the best method landholders have for determining flow levels, and therefore the extent of any flooding event, is to phone neighbours. This is despite several inquiries over more than a decade that have identified the need for improved metering and installation of new gauges.
The entire Basin Plan is predicated on specific flow levels, even though there have been repeated warnings from those who live and breathe the system that much of the modelling on which they were based was inaccurate. We desperately need someone with the political courage to stand up and say, “something is not right here” and demand an open and transparent inquiry into the Basin Plan’s flaws and how to fix them. One thing is for certain, buying more water to store in dams and thus exacerbate flood risk is not the answer.
Yours,
Sue Braybon
Tocumwal, NSW
POWER OUTAGES CONCERN
To the Editor,
Thank you to everyone who has contacted me about the recent power outages and I’m sorry if there have been any delays getting back to you about this. Like many of you, these outages have reached my home and I understand how frustrating it can be.
These outages, and AusNet’s role in them, is something that I have been working on over the course of my time in Parliament, even before the most recent string of power outages.
I have engaged with AusNet on multiple occasions already regarding the outages and continue to do so to ensure we can resolve these issues. While AusNet is a private entity rather than a government one, the outages and the impact on residents and businesses have been completely unacceptable.
Following my first conversations with AusNet, I was disappointed in their response that only acknowledged the outages themselves and not the efforts to develop mitigation measures to prevent this from happening again.
I have since requested an in-person meeting to discuss their investment plan to upgrade their infrastructure and prevent these outages.
Should there be limitations on this investment, I will certainly be asking to see if there is anything the State and Federal Governments can do to assist. While this is predominantly an issue falling under the Federal Government’s purview, I will continue to ensure our community can have access to reliable power.
Regardless, when Parliament resumes in February, these outages will be my number one priority to raise. This will include raising the matter with the Minister for Consumer Affairs to work towards a solution.
This has also been an issue I have raised with our state-wide media connections on a weekly basis and will continue to do so until everyone understands the impact these outages are having.
Annabelle Cleeland MP,
Member for Euroa
