Issue 116, 1 April 2004

Goulburn River Environmental Audit

In mid March, the Minister for Environment and Water John Thwaites announced the first independent environmental audit into a major Victorian river system following a significant fish kill downstream of the Goulburn Weir.

“This environmental audit into the Goulburn River will help us improve the management and understanding of the river system to help prevent any further deaths of our native fish and preserve the health of the system for the whole region,” Mr Thwaites said.

As outlined in Fish-Fax issue 111, a substantial number of native fish, including 90 Murray Cod, as well as 110 introduced carp, were found dead downstream of the Goulburn Weir between the 14th and the 21st January 2004.

An investigation by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) into the fish kill found no evidence of chemical pollution but that oxygen levels in parts of the river were too low for fish to survive.

The EPA is still finalising its investigation but has advised that the cause of the low levels of oxygen may not be identified.

The EPA will appoint an independent environmental auditor. Partners in the audit will include key local environmental groups and:

Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority
Goulburn Murray Water
Department of Sustainability and Environment
Department of Primary Industries
Environment Victoria
VRFish


The auditing is a pro-active approach to identify any areas in which we can improve the management of the river to meet the needs for the environment and water users.” Mr Thwaites said.

Did you Know?

That the use of hoop nets and bait traps is permitted ONLY if each piece of equipment is tagged and labelled with your name and address. The tag must remain on or above the water surface when the device is in use.

 Help to Reduce the Spread of Aquatic Pest Species

The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) has recently released a new publication titled “Aquatic Pests – Treat ‘em Mean, Keep Your Boat Clean”.

The brochure identifies how you can clean and maintain your vessel to minimise the risk of spreading undesirable aquatic pests such as Northern Pacific Seastars (Asterias amurensis).

The six D’s to deter pests are:
Dislodge all plants and animals and bin them,
Drain water from you boat and gear. Try not to let it drain back into the water.
Dispose of unwanted live bait in a bin,
Douse your boat and gear with freshwater. Try not to drain it back into the water,
Dry your boat and equipment,
Don’t forget to apply an authorised antifoulant where appropriate.

Brochures are available from the DSE website – HYPERLINK http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/marinepests www.dse.vic.gov.au/marinepests – or by telephoning the Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

Marine Safety Victoria - Personal Flotation Devices

As a result of the Victorian State Coroner's recommendation that all recreational boaters must wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) Type-1 at all times while boating, Marine Safety Victoria is reviewing the use of PFDs.

To be part of this important boating safety review, download your copy of the policy options paper and questionnaire or complete the on-line questionnaire by 4th June – HYPERLINK "www.marinesafety.vic.gov.au" www.marinesafety.vic.gov.au Alternatively, contact Marine Safety Victoria, PO Box 2797Y, MELBOURNE VIC 3001 or fax: (03) 9655 6611.

Melbourne Water Report - ‘Melbourne's Rivers and Creeks 2004’

In the Port Phillip and Westernport region, Melbourne Water has responsibility for managing almost 4,000km of rivers and creeks, and a further 1,200km of waterways in forested areas and closed water supply catchments.

On 12th March, the Minister John Thwaites released ‘Melbourne's Rivers and Creeks 2004’ – a Melbourne Water report into the state of Melbourne's creeks and rivers.

The report finds 28% of Melbourne's rivers and creeks are currently in good or excellent condition and 25% are in moderate condition. It also suggests that the condition of rivers and creeks closer to the city worsen due to the run-off from buildings and roads, the loss of vegetation and litter.

However, the remainder are in poor or very poor condition because of changes to the water flow, litter and debris, and poorer water quality and habitat diversity over past decades. The report is available at www.melbournewater.com.au

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