By Xavier Smerdon
THE health of the Werribee River has been given a push in the right direction with the announcement that more than three billion litres of water will be sent to the river in the coming months.
Water Minister Peter Walsh announced last week that he had signed off on an environmental entitlement that would increase flows into the river.
“The entitlement will improve the environmental values and health of the Werribee River and its tributaries by legally entitling the river to 10 per cent of the inflows into Lake Merrimu,” Mr Walsh said.
“At present the Werribee River only receives passing flows below weirs and reservoirs, or unregulated flows when reservoirs and weirs spill.”
Mr Walsh said the increased water flow would improve the overall health of the Werribee River.
“This is a great outcome for the river which is a centre for social and recreational activities and is recognised as a river of very high regional significance,” he said.
“This entitlement will return flows to the river to help create the conditions under which the whole river’s ecosystem, including native fish and platypus, can thrive.”
Currently 20 per cent of inflows to Lake Merrimu and 20 per cent of the dam’s storage capacity is unallocated.
Mr Walsh said once the entitlement is established, the environment will have a start-up allocation of about three billion litres in Lake Merrimu and from then on, it will be entitled to 10 per cent of the lake’s inflows.
