Fishway could be less obtrusive

A Heritage Victoria permit to allow the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority to proceed with its planned Thomson River Fishway has not been welcomed by all stakeholders.

Friends of the Horseshoe Bend Tunnel and Baw Baw Shire have indicated their disappointment with the project, which they claim will reduce waterflow through the historic tunnel.

Council was an objector to the WGCMA application to Heritage Victoria and has called for a less obtrusive design of the fishway.

With no right of appeal against the Heritage Victoria decision, Friends member Terry Lowater said they were hopeful someone at government level would take hold of the issue and intervene.

Mr Lowater said the Friends group had been fighting for 18 years to save the tunnel and the Heritage Victoria decision did not deliver the outcome they had hoped for.

“We have never been against the fishway, just the size of it. We have never been against a resolution of water going around the bend.

“We have always tried to say to the catchment management authority that we support a fishway but not at that size.

“The size of it is going to be incredible and that’s what kicks us in the guts,” he said.

Heritage Victoria’s approval of the fishway includes a number of conditions including protecting the tunnel from excessive vibration, developing a Heritage Management Plan, independent heritage advice and inspections during planning and construction and the key elements being overseen by Heritage Victoria.

Mayor Joe Gauci said council felt the permit was premature and steps should be taken to ensure independent advice and quality assurance.

Cr Gauci said council supported the need to ensure fish passage in the Thomson River, but was concerned about the scale and extent of works proposed.

“It is our view that an alternate and less obtrusive design response is achievable and must be pursued.

“The fishway, scale and design has not been peer reviewed since the design was finalised in 2012.

“Council has obtained independent advice regarding possible design improvements to the fishway. Based on the independent advice, council objected to the current proposal.

Under the Heritage Act there is no third party appeal rights to the heritage permit.

Cr Gauci said they would now focus on working with the WGCMA to ensure works meet permit conditions.

The WGCMA submitted an application to Heritage Victoria in March outlining proposed works at Horseshoe Bend tunnel near Walhalla.

WGCMA chief executive officer Martin Fuller said Heritage Victoria’s approval was testament to the work that’s been done to ensure the project strikes the right balance between heritage and environmental considerations.

He said the permit conditions would ensure the heritage values of the site are protected.

A tender process will now begin to appoint a contractor to undertake the construction work, expected to begin early next year. Mr Fuller said the new fishway will unlock vast reaches of the upper Thomson and Aberfeldy rivers to endangered native fish for the first time in a century.

Tools and personal items valued at $3000 were stolen from a Toyota Hilux utility in Tarago Crt on Friday night.

Police said the theft occurred between 8.30pm on Friday night and 8am the following day.

The vehicle was parked in the driveway of a Tarago Crt house. Police said it appeared offenders gained access via unlocked doors.

Among the stolen tools was a distinctive crimping tool used by plumbers.