A FAMILY business could be out of operation in coming weeks, with planned floodwaters from a nearby forest expected to wipe out a crucial bypass near Murrabit.
As much as 21,000ML of water has been released into the Koondrook-Perricoota Forest as part of the Living Murray Project, an unprecedented watering event designed to rejuvenate the ailing forest along with the wildlife that relies on the system.
The $80 million flooding event will take place over about 40 days and will inundate around 1500 hectares of creek lines, wetlands and fringing vegetation in a network extending from one end of the forest to the other.
As the water makes its way out of the forest, it is expected to flood infrastructure — what are called waterway constraints — including a vital bypass near Sandy Bridge Road. about 6km from Murrabit.
Earlier this year, the bridge itself was declared too weak to handle anything above 10 tonnes, and the bypass — constructed by Wakool Shire Council — has been the only thoroughfare for a local family business that ferries cattle to and from the property.
Luke Keogh runs Keogh Cattle Co., and is concerned about the effect the watering event — and those to follow — will have on his livelihood.
He transports cattle on his 20 tonne semi-trailer multiple times per week, not just his own but livestock for sale belonging to neighbouring properties.
“They’ve put a 10 tonne limit on it, but I run a 20 tonne semi-trailer out of here and there’s another guy who cuts firewood on my property and uses the road. We’ve been using the bypass, they’re telling us now that water is going to wash [the bypass] away…”
“We’ve got a bridge here built in around 1917 and we’ve had a fair few problems with it over the years, despite work done at council’s expense,” Mr Keogh said.
“They’ve put a 10 tonne limit on it, but I run a 20 tonne semi-trailer out of here and there’s another guy who cuts firewood on my property and uses the road.
“We’ve been using the bypass, they’re telling us now that water is going to wash [the bypass] away,” Mr Keogh said.
Once the bypass is destroyed, business will be forced to a halt until a replacement can be constructed.
Mr Keogh is concerned not just about the next few months, but also the long-term sustainability of both the bridge and bypass.
“The main worry is if the bridge disappears as well, which is always a worry with an old bridge. And if we do get a heavy flood and another watering event at the same time, it could happen,” he said.
“The worst case scenario is if that bridge is out of action and the bypass washes out we’ve got no access to town.
“I’m concerned about future years too.”
Mr Keogh has been in regular contact with representatives of Forestry Corporation of NSW, who designed and launched the Koondrook-Perricoota Living Murray Project watering event.
The Living Murray Project manager Linda Broekman said when the project was first costed and planned, the bridge was able to take heavy loads.
Since then, things have become more complicated for all involved.
“[Wakool] Council hasn’t built very big pipes under the bypass, so we suspect the water will run over the top of it because it hasn’t been designed to withstand that volume of water,” Ms Broekman said.
“Since then, the whole design of this event has been influenced by this issue. We were speaking with Mr Keogh in March or April to advise him that we were likely to water at that time.
“We have worked with him to work out when the critical time of year for him is and with the other business owner selling firewood.”
But Ms Broekman said the current situation would be untenable.
She confirmed they intended to create further watering events through the Koondrook-Perricoota system.
“There are a lot of factors that would influence whether we would water in a given year — whether the forest would need it, whether there is water available — so in periods where there is water available but there haven’t been natural floods we would be expecting to be watering most years,” she said.
“I think it’s a real issue that they will be out of action at some point.
“We are working with the Keoghs to try to minimise our impacts as far as practicable but we do think there is some responsibility from council to resolve that issue.”
Wakool Shire Council mayor Neil Gorey agreed a more long-term solution was necessary to ensure the Keoghs were able to conduct their business undisturbed.
“There are a number of bridges — at least five or six — in a similar position,” he said.
“We’re certainly trying at every opportunity to negotiate a better deal with the Murray Darling Basin Authority to replace these bridges. These environmental flows are impacting on the landholder and the MDBA has been reaosnably reluctant to talk to the Wakool Shire about the replacement of these bridges.”
Mr Gorey said he was concerned about the ongoing effects of not just the Koondrook-Perricoota event but other environmental flows expected as part of the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
“I am supportive of the environmental flows but the cost of restoring [infrastructure] must be shared equally through the whole community.
“Not just individuals, but across the whole Murray Darling Basin,” he said.
“We need more fairness.”
