| Pumping Bendigo groundwater to evaporation ponds 'not an acceptable long-term solution' |
Victoria's Water Minister has strongly indicated the State Government will not support the continued pumping of Bendigo's rising groundwater to evaporation ponds north of the city.
The water is being pumped to Woodvale as a short-term solution while authorities decide whether the supply can be treated or reused.
Minister Lisa Neville met Woodvale residents yesterday to hear about their push for the evaporation ponds to be closed and cleaned up.
Ms Neville said she was aware of contamination concerns at the site and assured the community work was being done to resolve the issue.
"These are contaminants, there's no question about that and what we faced in December was a decision about whether we allowed the groundwater to continue to rise and reach the surface and therefore get into other Bendigo waterways," she said.
"That's clearly not acceptable nor is this an acceptable long-term solution.
"We do need to find a way forward that is sustainable and we have to work with that community to try to reduce risk."
She said a community reference group was being established.
"They will meet shortly and following that will be another round of community consultations and the community reference group role is to ensure that people are properly engaged," she said.
"They have a ... say and opportunity to debate and discuss the options going forward."
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