Tuesday, 29 October 2024

 Emma VULIN (Pakenham) (19:07): (884) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Water, and the action I seek is for the minister to work with me to coordinate an update from Melbourne Water to my community on the cultural heritage and environmental impact studies relating to the Beaconsfield dam safety project.

I understand the Beaconsfield dam was built over 100 years ago and that significant works are now needed to mitigate risks to downstream communities and to meet the current national guidelines set by the Australian National Committee on Large Dams. As part of the works that are currently underway, a drawdown of water is needed to enable construction work to begin on the dam wall. This slow drawdown of water will occur over a three-year period to allow the vegetation around the edge of the reservoir to migrate with the changing waterline, following advice from environmental specialists at the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research. Once this work has occurred, I am advised, a substantial body of water will remain in the reservoir – over 5 metres in depth – due to variation of the reservoir floor. It is also significant for my community that despite it not being currently required for firefighting water extraction, Beaconsfield Reservoir will remain an available extraction point for aerial firefighting post drawdown should it be required in addition to other water storages in the area.

The native flora and fauna in our community in Melbourne’s south-east is incredibly special, and it was great to hear that Melbourne Water will be monitoring the impact of this drawdown on environmental values so they can be protected for future generations. While the Beaconsfield Nature Conservation Reserve has been closed to the community since 1988, I have heard from my community that there is strong interest in what is next for the site, while recognising the fact that there are endangered native species there that we need to protect and preserve. I will continue to discuss with Melbourne Water and with both the Minister for Water and the Minister for Environment options for how we can provide the community with more access to the reserve.

I was pleased to hear about Melbourne Water’s plans to work with my community on how best to document a conservation management plan, which will help guide how best to capture the local history of the area in the next phase of their upgrade project. Cultural heritage management plans looking at Aboriginal heritage are important for projects like these, which is why it is great that throughout this process Melbourne Water will engage with Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action and my local community. I look forward to sharing further updates on this process and hearing how the community can help to capture and preserve our fantastic local history at the Beaconsfield Reservoir.