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As part of the Our Water Our Future action
plan, Lake Mokoan will be returned to its natural state
as an important wetland system.
This project is part of an integrated program of water
saving measures being undertaken by the Victorian Government
to create a more efficient irrigation system and increase
important environmental flows in Victorian rivers.
The project consists of two main parts, the work needed
to maintain a reliable water supply to water users reliant
on the Lake, and the rehabilitation of the site following
decommissioning of dam infrastructure and reinstatement
of a more natural water regime to the area.
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Prior to the late 1960s, the area occupied by Lake Mokoan
was a wetland system consisting of two main wetlands,
Winton and Green Swamps and several smaller swamps; Ashmeads,
Humphries, Saddlers, Taminick, Black and Lindsays.
In 1971 the dam was built and flooding of the wetland
system created Lake Mokoan, with the storage becoming
operational in 1972. Lake Mokoan was originally designed
to serve the Murray and Goulburn irrigation areas, however,
the infrastructure needed to serve the Goulburn irrigation
area was never built. The reason for this was due to ongoing
concerns regarding water quality and blue-green algae
outbreaks.
Indigenous History
Archaeological surveys conducted in the region indicate
that Indigenous people once inhabited the wetland area.
A range of heritage sites have been identified and scarred
trees have also been found. A scarred tree is where the
bark has been removed to make a canoe, container, shield
or shelter.
It is believed that the wetland area would have once
provided a reliable water source and hunting ground for
Indigenous tribes. Birds, fish and shellfish would have
been plentiful while plant food and traditional medicines
would also have been available for gathering.
The wetlands and its surrounds would have offered good
shelter and materials for making tools. A range of stone
resources for flaked tools (hornfels, quartz, chalcedony
and possibly silcrete and basalt) and grinding tools (sandstone
and granite) would have been available. There is evidence
that raw materials were brought to the area from other
locations.
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Why is Lake Mokoan being decommissioned, aren't we short of water? |
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. Lake Mokoan is a very inefficient water storage facility. It loses about 50,000 megalitres (ML) of water every year through evaporation. The Mokoan - Return to Wetland Project will deliver, on average, water savings in the order of 46,000 ML annually to the Broken, Lower Goulburn, Murray and Snowy Rivers for environmental flows. |
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I have heard reports that the Lake Mokoan site is going to be rehabilitated after the decommissioning. What is happening? |
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This project is part of an integrated program of water saving measures being undertaken by the Victorian Government. These programmes are aimed to create a more efficient irrigation system and increase important environmental flows in Victorian rivers.
This project consists of two main parts. Firstly, this incorporates the now complete installation of the Lake Diverters Pipeline, amongst other measures, needed to maintain access of supply for the water users reliant on the Lake. Secondly, the project aims to deliver the rehabilitation of the whole lake site following decommissioning of dam infrastructure and reinstatement of a more natural water regime to the area.
The Winton Wetlands Committee of Management will provide stakeholders with communications on the Lake Mokoan Future Land Use Strategy (FLUS) as it comes to hand.
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Why is rehabilitating the Winton Wetlands so important? |
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Water savings from the Lake will help improve the health of the Broken, Goulburn, Snowy and Murray Rivers. Healthy rivers are the lifeblood of our community, providing vital water for homes, towns, farms and businesses. Healthy rivers and associated wetlands also support habitats for native animals and fish. The Winton Wetlands will play an important role in improving the local habitat for a number of endangered flora and fauna species. |
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Will local landholders who rely on the Lake be left without water? |
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The Victorian Government has made a commitment to provide an alternative supply to water users who take water directly from the lake. A further commitment has been made to irrigators within the broader Broken River system that their existing reliability of water supply will not be affected.
A new system has been developed and implemented by Goulburn-Murray Water including a pump station, the Lake Mokoan Diverters Pipeline and its storage scheme, to provide effective access to water by current lake diverters.
In the broader Broken system, works to improve the operational efficiency of the supply system (including pipelining of the Tungamah domestic and stock scheme) are being implemented, along with a program to purchase water entitlements from willing sellers. Reduction in demand by purchase of water entitlements means that the remaining storage in the system at Lake Nillahcootie can effectively meet the demands of the remaining broken entitlement holders.
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What commitment has the government made to irrigators over maintaining supply reliability? |
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The Our Water Our Future action plan commits the Government to maintaining reliability of supply to water users in the Broken, Goulburn and Murray Irrigation Systems after Lake Mokoan is decommissioned. This reliability of supply for the Broken System, based on modelling of the system for the Bulk Entitlement Conversion process, was determined to be 91%.
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. What does 91% reliability of supply mean?
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That in 91 years out of 100, full allocation of water right would be available to irrigators. In the remaining nine years out of 100, an allocation would in most years be available but it would be less than full allocation.
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Why is the decommissioning project involved in the purchase of water entitlements in the Broken River system? |
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Water for Rivers (WfR) has been asked by the Victorian Minister for Water to undertake the water share purchase component of the Lake Mokoan Decommissioning Project.
Letters of offer to purchase water shares, or water entitlements as they are also known, have been sent to irrigators by WfR as part of that project. This process forms part of the final offset packages for irrigators. For further information click here. |
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Why do we need offset packages?
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These are needed to maintain a reliable supply to Broken System irrigators after the decommissioning of Lake Mokoan. The offsets reduce water losses while reducing demand or transferring demand to the adjoining Goulburn system. |
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Who had input into the offset package investigations?
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Over the past 4 years, Goulburn-Murray Water, Department of Sustainability & Environment, Goulburn-Broken Catchment Management Authority, Broken System Reliability Reference Committee, The Victorian Farmers Federation, Water for Rivers, irrigator representatives and a range of independent consultants have been among groups contributing to the process. |
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How will these packages alter current water supply arrangements?
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Water supply arrangements for all Broken System customers will be modified to varying degrees depending on the final offset package chosen. |
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What is 'Basin Pricing' and why is it relevant to the decommissioning of Lake Mokoan? |
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Basin Pricing is method of pricing that ensures the actual costs of harvesting and storing water in a river basin are shared amongst the water users within that same basin. For further information click here. |
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Without Lake Mokoan, will Benalla be at increased risk from flooding? |
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Lake Mokoan plays a negligible role in reducing floods in Benalla. A number of studies have been completed to investigate any potential impacts. To view findings (click here) |
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Will firefighting be affected when the lake is returned to a wetland?
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While water supply for irrigation and domestic and stock use is the core consideration, access along the new Lake Mokoan Diverters Pipeline system for the CFA has also played an important part in the overall planning. This has meant that, by agreement with the CFA, tapping point connections along the pipeline, provision of a number of strategically located water storage tanks and purpose built water access at the Operational Storage have been provided. |
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Who will look after the area after the decommissioning?
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The Minister for Environment and Climate Change has appointed the Winton Wetlands Committee of Management under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978 to manage and restore the Winton Wetlands. On decommissioning the responsibility for managing the land will be transferred from Goulburn-Murray Water to the Winton Wetlands Committee of Management. |
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How will the wetland system be rehabilitated?
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The vision for the future wetland has been developed as part of the Mokoan Future Land Use Strategy (FLUS). The Victorian Government has committed up to $20m for the rehabilitation of the Winton Wetlands. The Winton Wetlands Committee of Management will manage and restore the Winton Wetlands. The Committee, in consultation with the community, will develop a program to implement the Future Land Use Strategy and rehabilitate the Winton Wetlands. |
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What will you be able to do at Lake Mokoan when it is returned to a wetland?
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The Lake Mokoan Future Land Use Steering Committee was responsible for the development of the FLUS which involved considerable community and stakeholder consultation. The FLUS has recommended a range of activities considered suitable to occur at the site.
A key focus for the Winton Wetlands Committee of Management will be to ensure that the wetlands are a significant asset for the regional community. Opportunities will be provided for tourism, recreation, monitoring and research. The implementation of the FLUS Vision will be the responsibility of the Winton Wetlands Committee of Management.
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Final Lake Mokoan Future Land Use Strategy released |
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Completed negotiations with VFF and Irrigators on supply reliability offset measures
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Completed construction of Lake Mokoan Diverters Pipeline scheme
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Winton Wetland Committee of Management appointed
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Completed construction of Mid Murray Storage Project - Phase 1 works
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Water for Rivers to complete purchase of water entitlements to support Broken System supply reliability |
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Complete construction for core offset measures
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Amend Bulk Entitlement Orders for Broken, Goulburn and Murray rivers |
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Complete embankment breach and other works decommissioning activities
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