A group of seven community representatives have been selected to support a crucial review into the future of the Broken System.
The focus area within the Broken System encompasses an area of over 7,000 square kilometres. This covers the Broken River from Lake Nillahcootie to its confluence with the Goulburn River at Shepparton, and the Upper Broken Creek, from the Broken River confluence at Caseys Weir to Waggarandall Weir.
Concerns about the long-term sustainability of the system were identified as part of the Broken System Review in 2020-22, which led to the establishment of a Broken Reconfiguration Feasibility Study.
The study will consider system reconfiguration options to support the community to plan for reduced water availability in the future and to better meet the region’s long-term needs.
Feasible reconfiguration options will be analysed to understand the socio-economic and other benefits they could provide. These draft options will be tested with stakeholders and the community to help to determine the preferred outcome.
A consultative committee comprising members from the community and other key stakeholders have now met for the first time and will guide the feasibility study development.
Craig Madden was one of the seven community members to be selected for the committee.
Mr Madden is a farmer of more than three decades and is the chair of the Goulburn Broken Regional Water Services Committee.
Mr Madden is a retired irrigation farmer with four decades of experience in the industry and is the chair of the Goulburn Broken Regional Water Services Committee.
He said the Broken System is under stress and future options need to be considered.
“The feasibility study is a valuable chance for us to investigate long-term solutions for the system and deliver a positive outcome and greater reliability for irrigators in the region,” he said.
The following community representatives have been selected to sit on the consultative committee:
- Chris Gibson
- Maureen Cottam
- Wayne Spinks
- Neil Renshaw
- David Rush
- Craig Madden
- Trevor Stedman
GMW Water Delivery Services general manager Warren Blyth thanked those who applied to be on the committee.
“We are very grateful to everyone who took the time to submit an expression of interest – this is promising for our plans to engage with irrigators and broader community,” he said.
“We received some strong applications, and the committee members who have been selected bring with them a lot of knowledge that will be invaluable to the study.”
More information on the Broken Reconfiguration Feasibility Study, including Consultative Committee meeting summaries can be found on GMW’s YourSay website: https://yoursay.gmwater.com.au/brfs