A northern Victorian waterway crucial to irrigation and flood management could come under tighter government control under a proposed arrangement.
The Federal Government is currently assessing Ghow (formerly Kow) Swamp for inclusion on the National Heritage List.
The Federal Government and the Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation are inviting the public to attend one of two drop-in sessions to learn more about the assessment and what it means for the region.
Ghow Swamp, near Gunbower, has an international reputation as a result of archaeological digs which have uncovered ancient burial sites that date back to the late Pleistocene period.
The remains held in museums have been gradually repatriated to the area. Indigenous people hold the site in high regard.
However, the proposed change in classification of the area has alarmed State Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh, who warns there will be further restrictions on use of the site.
He says to all intents and purposes, boating and fishing have been wiped from the board and now the Victorian Government wants to do even more damage.
“Apart from anything else, Kow Swamp is currently an irrigation storage zone and when managed correctly is also crucial in flood mitigation in the region,” Mr Walsh said.
“For all the people of the region, indeed of the state, to lose their say over how Kow Swamp and its system works is a major and potentially irretrievable step backwards.
“Kow Swamp has worked effectively and efficiently for countless generations, there is no reason to change anything — except to reopen it to recreational use as well.
“None of its uses, past and present, are having, or have had, any sort of negative effect on the swamp and the people who have, do, or want to use it.”
Under the current declaration, according to the Federal Government, access to Ghow Swamp from public reserves continues.
People can still visit the area for picnics, photography, birdwatching, fishing and other recreational activities that do not impact the values of the Aboriginal place.
What is banned under the current protection declaration made by the Minister for Treaty and First Peoples are: new water channels, expansion of water channels or pumping stations, establishment of any new power transmission lines, livestock, horse riding, agriculture and camping.
According to Goulburn-Murray Water, Ghow Swamp is an integral part of the Torrumbarry irrigation system, and allows water to be stored for use during periods of high demand, thus providing a better level of service to G-MW customers and avoiding periods of rationing during these times.
Ghow Swamp and Kangaroo Lake, with a total of 27,000 megalitres of useable storage, are used as in-system storage to overcome the long delay in receiving water from Lake Hume.
The drop-in sessions will hear from representatives of the Federal Government and Yorta Yorta Nations about why Ghow Swamp is being considered for the National Heritage List, and allow questions about the process and how it may affect the community.
The sessions will be held on Wednesday, October 22, from 10am to 1pm in Workshop Cafe, 3-5 Main St, Gunbower; and from 3 pm to 6pm in Echuca Library, 310 Hare St, Echuca.