RESPECT THE FLOW – KEEP THE MOORABOOL RIVER RUNNING 

People blocking a culvert at Dollys Creek Road crossing on the Moorabool River have contributed to severe flow stress in the lower reaches of the river around Batesford and Meredith.  

This blockage exacerbates impacts of the recent hot, dry conditions and makes it very difficult for fish, platypus and other animals that rely on this water to survive.  

The Moorabool River is one of the most flow-stressed rivers in Victoria. The construction of reservoirs, water extraction, and a significant number of farm dams in the catchment are all other contributing factors.   

The lowest reach of the river surrounding Batesford and Meredith is extremely vulnerable to cease-to-flow events, this is when the river stops flowing completely. These events can lead to poor water quality and impact native plants and animals that rely on river flows.  

Jake van Dam, Project Officer of Estuaries and Environmental Water at Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CMA), said that we all play a part in protecting flow, “It’s up to all of us to look after our beautiful, life-giving Moorabool River and an easy way for everyone to do this is to respect the flow,” he said.  

“One of the ways we support the health of our rivers and wetlands is through water for the environment - water set aside in storages that is released into rivers and wetlands to support the plants and animals that live, feed and breed in them.”  

“When people prevent flow from moving from one point to another on the Moorabool River, they are blocking both the natural flows, which are very low right now, and water for the environment.”  

On the Moorabool River, Corangamite CMA manages water for the environment strategically with support from Central Highlands Water, the operator of the Lal Lal Reservoir near Ballarat. Water is released from Lal Lal Reservoir at different times of the year in different volumes to support a range of ecological processes.  

Under state legislation, interfering with water flow in a river can result in fines of up to $244,000 and or imprisonment for up to 10 years.