AUDITOR-GENERAL Maxine Cooper has issued a chilling warning that since 2009 neglect of the Lower Cotter Catchment has created a situation she fears may be catastrophic in the future.
Dr Cooper said ‘there have been some significant achievements made in implementing the Lower Cotter Catchment Strategic Management Plan 2007 in an area devastated by fire just over twelve years ago — now a major land restoration project in a fire?damaged and erosion?degraded potable water catchment. It reflects a cooperative approach across Government agencies, Icon Water and community volunteers’.
Dr Cooper also said ‘while this approach has yielded desired results, since 2009 coordination has been problematic and a new management, coordination and decision?
making structure for the Lower Cotter Catchment is needed’.While this is good news, Dr Cooper’s report provides a warning that the Lower Cotter Catchment is exposed to significant risks which could accumulate and lead to a catastrophic failure of this water catchment.
The full report is available online.
[Photo: The swollen Murrumbidgee River near Cotter Dam. Photo by Silas Brown]
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