EXPOSING DEVELOPERS WHO FAIL TO APPRECIATE AND RESPECT COMMUNITY, ENVIRONMENT AND SPIRIT OF THE LAND

Goulburn Murray Water

Herbicide Overkill in the Murray River Catchment

See Friends of the Earth December 2006 Press Release

Goulburn Valley Water (Friends of the Earth Melbourne newsletter Summer 2007)

Water Management Issues

Southern Rural Water also using Acrolein

Taboo water plan in pipeline 17/6/07

Two Prong Plan for Water 18/6/07

Chemical concerns raised 2/1/08

Goulburn River above offtake to Sugarloaf Reservoir

Native Fish Facing Extinction! People facing drinking water quality problems.

Did you know that according to the EPA Victoria's 2006 Environmental Audit of the Goulburn River - Lake Eildon to The Murray River the mean annual concentration for Amitrole T in the Central Goulburn and Shepparton Irrigation Areas is estimated to be above the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines by over 250%. As a result of the EPA audit, Goulburn Murray Water had to test for Glyphosate, Amitrole, 2,4-D and AMPA over a 3 year period. (Guideline Heath limits for Amitrole are 10ppb, Glyphosate 1000ppb and 2,4-D 30ppb)

On 12/4/06 Glyphosate readings of 10,500ppb were detected in Drain 8, Ardmona, Midland Highway (AMPA was also detected on this day at 830ppb). On 10/4/06 Glyphosate readings of 940ppb were detected in the Community Surface Drain, Rodney Drainage System, Amitrole was detected at 1060ppb at the same location.

Amitrole was consistently detected for 5 weeks between 30/3/06 to 6/5/06 in Rodney Main Drain with the level peaking on 30/4/06 at 29ppb

In May 2006 readings for 2,4-D amine in Murray Channel CH1/5 reached; 2960ppb (9/5/06), 1920ppb(10/5/06), 1950ppb(11/5/06) & 2110ppb (12/5/06).

Residue testing in response to Goulburn River Audit 2005. Date 1/10/06

Did you know that over 60 communities rely on drinking water from irrigation channels in Victoria? Did you know that according to the reputable Pesticide Action Network, Amitrole is a carcinogen, a potential groundwater contaminant and suspected endocrine disruptor? Drinking water authority Goulburn Valley Water does not test for either Acrolein or Amitrole!

Estimated residual mean concentrations of Glyphosate and 2,4-D amine are likely to be below Australian drinking water guidelines, but what happens if the herbicides have a synergistic effect? Why haven't peak concentrations of herbicides been calculated in the past? These peak levels are bound to be much higher than a mean level averaged out over the year, potentially leaving water users dangerously exposed.

These herbicides, along with Acrolein are used by Goulburn Murray Water to control aquatic weeds growing in channels and irrigation drains. Acrolein is injected directly into flowing water, whilst Amitrole, Glyphosate and 2,4-D are spot sprayed when the weeds are not submerged. The Federal Regulatory body, the APVMA, has granted GMW permits to spray amitrole at 10L/ha and Glyphosate between 20 and 40 L/ha.

Channel water can be diverted to supply raw water for potable use.

GMW also uses a concoction of other herbicides to kill weeds growing along drains and channels. These herbicides most likely include Simazine, Sulfometuron and Metsulfuron Methyl. There must be a high possibility of these herbicides also entering channel water.

GMW also have permission to spray Glyphosate into the Broken Creek and Nine Mile Creek. Up until 1995 G-MW also used sodium 2,2 dicchloropropionate (2,2-DPA)!

Victorian Communities drinking Channel Water (and water from Broken Creek) supplied by Goulburn Murray Water.

Victorian Communites drinking Channel Water supplied by Wimmera Mallee Water.

According to Wimmera Mallee Water's website; 63% of their customers are supplied by the Wimmera Mallee Channel System. "the length of channel treated with chemical weedicides is growing as this form of treatment can defer the more expensive channel ditching in some instances. It is used extensively in the irrigation areas around Horsham where access along channels is a problem and introduced weeds such as Elodea are rapidly spreading... Generally, GMW is responsible for channel waterway areas and the neighbouring landholder manages weed control on channel banks and adjacent land".

Recent Fish Kills linked to Herbicides used by Goulburn-Murray Water for Aquatic Weed Control?

Goulburn-Murray Water regularly use Acrolein, 2,4-D, Amitrole, Glyphosate and other herbicides directly in channels, drains and waterways. Have these herbicides been tested for their impacts on the native fish listed on this page? Of course not.

Thwaites attacked on Tehan job (Melbourne Age 18/8/04)

Gastro Outbreak Lake Nagambie Nov 13 2004

Murray Cod facing Extinction?

Goulburn-Murray Water is a large irrigation enterprise covering approximately 546,000 hectares, based north of the Great Divide in the south east Australian state of Victoria.

There are six Irrigation Areas within this region with 12,500 customers using an average of 2.1 million megalitres (ML) of water each year.

Aquatic weeds including indigenous species can invade these areas, which include approximately;

*6,756 km of earthen supply channels

*2,931 km of earthern drains

*394 km of domestic and stock channels

*17 major storages

Trout Cod Facing Extinction?

Herbicides are used by GMW to maintain a relatively weed free drainage system.

Aquatic Plant Services (APS) are the small unit which oversees and develops all aspects of G-MW aquatic weed control. They are apparent leaders in the field of using the herbicide Acrolein.

Aquatic weeds can be described in the following ways;

*those that germinate below the water surface

*those that are normally rooted to the bed of the water body

*those that do not have the majority of foliage floating or submerged.

Channels and drains under the control of GMW are of earthern construction, are located in region with mild winters and summers which can get hotter than 40 degrees celcius. Weeds species such as Typha spp (Cumbungi) , Myriophyllum spp, Sagittaria spp (Arrowhead), Juncus spp (rushes), and a range of Gramineae spp (grasses) can grow very well in nutrient enriched drainage water. Common weeds include: Phragmites spp (Common Reed), Cumbungi, Arrowhead and Rushes.

Submersed weeds have a life cycle under water. These weeds cannot be controlled by foliar applied herbicides. Submersed weeds include Elodea Canadensis (Elodea), Potamogeton ochreatus (Blunt Pondweed), Potamogeton crispis (Curly Pondweed), Vallisneria spiralis (Ribbonweed). The worst of these weeds for GMW is Elodea which can also cause local flooding in drains.

Macquarie Perch Facing Extinction?

There are only a few herbicides registered for weed control in supply channels, drains or reservoirs. Submersed weeds are mainly controlled by Acrolein.

GMW use Glyphosate (Roundup Active) to control Typha spp and Phragmites spp in irrigation channels and drains. It is also used to control Water Couch Paspalum distichum in drains. Normally applied at rates of between 6 and 9 L/ha for harder to control perennial weeds and between 1 and 3 L/ha for annual grasses. Residue limit is 0.1ppm. In natural waterways into which sprayed drains discharge, the limit is 0.01ppm.

GMW use Amitrole T or Amitrole TL Plus for the control of Paspalum distichum (Water couch) and Cyperus eragrostis (Umbrella Sedge) in drains. It can also be used to control Typha spp in drains. It is applied at rates of 20L/ha and often as a 10/10 split treatment. Amitrole is not usually used in supply channels as the acceptable residue limit in irrigation water is 0.002 ppm which only allows the use or 0.04 litres of product/ML flow.

2,4-D Amine is used by Goulburn Murray Water usually under the trade name Amicide LO500A. Used mainly for control of Sagittaria gramineae (Arrowhead) in supply channels and drains. Also can be used to control Myriophyllum spp and Juncus spp. Amicide LO500A is used at a rate of 10L/ha with an acceptable residue limit for irrigation water of 0.1ppm.

Acrolein is used by Goulburn Murray Water and is marketed as Magnacide H. It is used to control submersed weeds in supply channels and drains. Acrolein is injected at a point into a flowing stream. It evaporates quickly leaving few residues? Acrolein acts as a chemical mower, stripping submersed foliage from the bed of the channel or drain to allow unimpeded flow of water. Is used at rates of 15.0 ppm down to as low as 0.1 ppm with most treatments being around 0.3-0.5 ppm. Acrolein is manufactured by US oil industry company Baker Petrolite (a subsidiary of Baker Hughes) and is used to control bacterial populations and to eliminate hydrogen sulfide and iron sulfide in oilfield operations. It has been linked to fish mortality in the United States.

Golden Perch Facing Extinction?

GMW also use other herbicides that are not registed to be used on land near water for control of noxious weeds. GMW undertakes weed programs on channel and drain reserves in order to complement required works being carried out by landholders within Irrigation Areas. GMW through APS use handguns to spot spray for species such as Typha spp in supply channels. In regards to boom sprays GMW have a truck mounted, one sided boom system. The single sided boom is six metres in length with six spray nozzles set at one metre intervals. The nozzles are attached to droppers which deliver the herbicide close to the target area. GMW have nine such vehicles.

Acrolein is used via Acrolein Dispensing Units which are 2x2 metres boxed trailer containing Acrolein in an approved pressure vessel, pumping equipment and precision metering equipment. The unit can deliver 0-6 L/hr. Some treatments may take 60 hours to complete.

Glyphosate and 2,4-D have also reportedly been sprayed directly into creeks such as the Broken Creek and Nine Mile Creek by Goulburn Murray Water.

Silver Perch Facing Extinction?

Thwaites attacked on Tehan* job (Melbourne Age 18/8/04) by Richard Baker

*Marie Tehan was also the State's environment minister in the late 1990's. She was regarded very poorly amongst key environmental groups.

ALP members have attacked Environment Minister John Thwaites for appointing a former Kennett minister he once accused of being incompetent to the board of the state's biggest rural water authority.

The Reservoir ALP branch recently passed a motion condemning Mr Thwaites for appointing Marie Tehan, a former Liberal health and environment minister, to the board of the Goulburn-Murray Water Authority last month.

"The branch expresses deep disappointment that the former Liberal minister for health and the environment, who the state Labor Party said was unfit to hold public office, has now been appointed to this important post," the motion said.

"How can branches support a Government making such bad decisions? We condemn you and urge you to the rethink."

The Reservoir branch meets monthly in the electorate office of Labor's parliamentary secretary for justice, Jenny Mikalos. She is the upper house member for Jika Jika province.

Mrs Tehan will receive $31,500 a year during her three-year appointment. It is believed former federal Labor MP Peter Cleeland, who held the country seat of McEwen for several years, was overlooked for a board position in favour of Mrs Tehan.

Mr Thwaites was a fierce critic of Mrs Tehan when Labor was in opposition in the 1990s and called for her to resign as health minister because of problems with Victoria's ambulance dispatch system.

Accusing her of being involved in a cover-up, he told State Parliament in 1997 that Mrs Tehan "ought to resign if she had a shred of decency".

Gastro Outbreak Lake Nagambie

Saturday, November 13, 2004. 8:12am (AEDT) Gastro outbreak prompts Nagambie fishing warning

The Victorian Health Department is warning people not to eat fish caught in the Lake Nagambie area north of Melbourne. Six people have suffered a gastrointestinal illness after eating red fin caught in the lake or its tributaries in recent weeks. One person was treated in hospital but all have since recovered. Health Department spokesman Bram Alexander says the only factor common to all the patients was eating the fish. "They all had a bout of gastrointestinal illness but it wasn't your usual bout of gastro," he said. "One of the other symptoms or some of the other symptoms they had were dizziness, disorientation [and] numbness in the fingers and feet." The department says there is no problem with the area's drinking water and signs warning people not to eat the fish have been put up at 40 locations.

Goulburn Valley Water (Friends of the Earth Melbourne newsletter Summer 2007)

In 2006 FoE members may have been disturbed by an article in this newsletter which discussed issues surrounding weed control in irrigation channels in northern Victoria.

Some of these channels supply small rural communities with drinking water. Of particular concern were the herbicides Acrolein, Amitrole and 2,4-D. In December, Goulburn Murray Water, the water manager in the region, responded to a FoE Freedom of Information request. FoE was alarmed to find that in one channel in 2006, a reading for Amitrole was 1,000 times over the guideline limit for drinking water. A reading for 2,4-D was 30,000 times over the guideline limit for drinking water and a reading for glyphosate was 1,000 times over the guideline limit. Although the samples were taken from channels that most likely were not a source of drinking water, they give grounds for concern in regards to channels that are used for drinking water and sprayed with these herbicides. Amitrole for instance is an endocrine disruptor, has been linked to cancer, and has a half life in water of one month!

This concern was increased after a Freedom of Information request was sent back to FoE from Goulburn Valley Water, the regions drinking water provider.

Goulburn Valley Water does not even test for Acrolein or Amitrole! ... Some other small pollution events have occurred in the past decade, mainly with hexachlorobenzene and pentachlorophenol, although traces of 2,4-D were recently detected in Broken Creek. Broken Creek provides drinking water to the communities of Nathalia and Numurkah.

Other pesticides detected by Goulburn Murray Water included Endosulfan, Chlorpyrifos, Parathion Methyl and Atrazine in drains near orchards in the Ardmona, Shepparton and West Boort regions. These readings breached Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) guidelines for aquaculture, potentially threatening populations of native fish in the region.

Chemical concerns raised The Weekly Times, January 2, 2008

by Leslie White

Environmental groups have called for a review of chemical spraying in irrigation drains and channels following a glyphosate reading 25 times the guideline level for protecting aquatic life.

The reading occurred after Goulburn Murray Water sprayed for aquatic weeds last year.

GMW was ordered to conduct testing after a large number of fish deaths in the Goulburn River in 2004.

Test results revealed a reading for glyphosate, the active ingredient in Round-Up, of 10.5 milligrams a litre.

The guideline level for protecting aquatic ecosystems is 0.37/mg a litre.

GMW planning and environment executive manager Alex Marshall admitted the reading was 'extremely high', but said that the sample had been taken immediately after spraying.

"This could have been shallow water," Mr Marshall said.

But Goulburn Valley Environment Group spokesman Nick Roberts and Environment Victoria chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy called for a review of chemical use in irrigation drains.

"There's a human consumption issue ... there's tens of thousands of people in Shepparton and towns along the Goulburn (taking drinking water from the river)," Mr Roberts said.

Ms O'Shannassy said failing to meet guidelines was "not good enough", adding healthy rivers were vital for rural communities.

The testing also found weed killer 2,4-D at 2.96mg a litre and amitrole at 1.06mg a litre.

It also found amitrole at 0.29mg a litre before GMW had begun spraying - likely caused by spray drift or runoff.

A two-year study by Department of Primary Industries and GMW consistently found three agricultural chemicals in Goulburn Murray waterways: the insecticide endosulfan, the powerful herbicide atrazine and the fungicide copper.

The three chemicals are associated with intensive orchards, vineyards, vegetables and pastures.

Endosulfan levels at Mooroopna, Ardmona, and Kyabram exceeded guidelines for aquaculture, while the report said it was "generally believed atrazine in irrigation water may be hazardous to some agricultural crops".

Ausveg chief executive John Roach said growers were "always concerned at the quality of input that goes into production".

"The vegetabale industry prides itself on quality, safe vegetable production - anything impacting on that is of concern."

GMW is the largest rural water supply authority in Australia.

Forestry in GMW catchments

This image likely to be taken in 2005. Mt Disappointment State Forest. Probably Dabyminga Creek catchment which feeds into Sunday Creek.

Same site in November 2006.

Plantation forestry inside Sunday Creek domestic water supply in Mount Disappointment State Forest. This catchment provides drinking water to Broadford, Kilmore and Kilmore East.

November 2006: Hardwood plantations off Morrisons Creek Road/Mount Disappointment State Forest. Sunday Creek Reservoir catchment.

Sign off Plantation Road inside Sunday Creek reservoir catchment.

Water Management Issues

Sunday Creek Reservoir in drought - November 2006. Sunday Creek Reservoir supplies drinking water to the towns of Broadford, Kilmore and Kilmore East. Traces of Pentachlorophenol (PCP) at 2 µg/L (2 parts per billion) were detected in this reservoir in October 2005 by Goulburn Valley Water. The reading came in at 200 over the Australian Drinking Water Guideline (ADWG)Values and 80% under the ADWG health values.Pentachlorophenol is a chlorinated phenol and is a carcinogen, a suspected endocrine disruptor and has a high acute toxicity. The World Health Organisation class Pentachlorophenol as 1b (Highly Hazardous). PCP is known as being a wood preservative, a microbiocide, an algaecide, a fungicide and a mollusicide. So what is it doing being detected in this reservoir which has a largely closed catchment. See map.

Broken Creek Numurkah: Pollution of the town's water supply, Broken Creek, occurred twice in 2005 detected at the offtake to the town. Pentachlorophenol (PCP) was detected at 1 µg/L in December and 2,4-D was detected at 17 µg/L in June. The 2,4-D reading was alarming.

Broken Creek Nathalia, downstream from Numurkah.

Regrowth forests at Mount Disappointment

Goulburn Weir. Water is diverted near the weir into the East Goulburn Main Channel and also the Cattanach Canal (Waranga Basin).

Tatura Water Supply. Channel No. 3/5. Low levels of the herbicides atrazine and endosulfan have been detected in this channel.

Boosey Creek and Katamatite Water Supply Offtake. It appears that drinking water is sourced from the Creek after flow is diverted from an irrigation channel north of the town.

Diverted channel water flowing into Boosey Creek, Katamatite. The paddock in the background is sprayed with pesticides.

Channel from where Katamatite sources its drinking water. Low levels of Endosulphan and Atrazine have been detected in this channel.

Broken Creek, 4km upstream from Nathalia. Broken Creek provides drinking water to Nathalia and Numurkah and is surrounded by agricultural cropping. Broken Creek is also sprayed with Glyphosate to kill aquatic weeds.

Irrigated pasture near Broken Creek, upstream of Nathalia's drinking water offtake.

Broken Creek at Numurkah.

Waranga Western Channel, water supply for Rochester.

Irrigation channel flowing from Waranga Western Channel upstream from Rochester. Endosulphan and Atrazine have been detected in this channel.

Lake Nagambie showing where drinking water is pumped from. Glyphosate used to control aquatic weeds at Lake Nagambie

Southern Rural Water also using Acrolein

Rough image of Macalister River upstream of Maffra water supply offtake in central Gippsland (Stratford is also supplied from the Macalister). The blue indicates the approximate location of the Macalister River, the orange indicates approximate location of channels sprayed with Acrolein in January and November 2005. It is quite likely that residues of Acrolein may have entered the Macalister. Glyphosate is also used to control weeds in irrigation channels. According to the Gippsland Times 13/4/07 Maffra's water supply remains untested for chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides. Acrolein is also in the Thompson River catchment.

Kentucky Creek Gippsland flushed with Acrolein in 2005 by GMW contractors for Southern Rural Water

Kentucky Creek Gippsland flushed with Acrolein in 2005 by GMW contractors for Southern Rural Water

Macalister River Gippsland, near Maffra Offtake, possibly also was impacted by Acrolein in 2005 by GMW contractors for Southern Rural Water

Main Sale Channel Gippsland flushed with Acrolein in 2005 by GMW contractors for Southern Rural Water

Northern Channel Gippsland flushed with Acrolein in 2005 by GMW contractors for Southern Rural Water

Taboo water plan in pipeline

Sunday Age Page 1 Jason Dowling 17/6/07

The controversial proposal for a massive water pipeline from the Goulburn Valley to Melbourne that could pump an extra 150 billion litres of water into the city each year, looks set to move a step closer.

It is expected Premier Steve Bracks will announce the next stage of the plan as early as this week, breaking a long-standing taboo and a pre-election promise not to pipe water across the Great Dividing Range to boost the city's supply.

Water Minister John Thwaites is expected to outline his vision for the Goulburn Valley pipeline when he meets the Victorian Farmers' Federation tomorrow.

President Simon Ramsay said his organistion did not support the north-south pipe, but was willing to listen to the Government's proposal, providing there was a commitment to extensive consultation before any decision.

As Melbourne's water storages continue to fall despite rain, the Government is likely to elevate the Goulburn Valley pipeline, one of four major water supply proposals for Melbourne, to the feasibility or business-case planning stage. This increases its likelihood of proceeding.

Of the three other proposals, taking stormwater from the Yarra River and building a desalinisation plant are at the feasibility stage, and a plan to pipe recycled water to the LaTrobe Valley in return for drinking water is at the advanced business-case stage.

Last month, Treasuer John Brumby said an announcement about a new major water source or combination of supplies would be made "within months".

Federal Water Minsiter Malcolm Turnbull said the Commonwealth would not be providing money for the Goulburn pipeline proposal as an enticement for Victoria to sign up to its $10 billion Murray-Darling water plan.

Two Prong Plan for Water Herald Sun

Ellen Whinnett and Sarah Wotherspoon June 18, 2007 12:00am

THE Bracks Government will take a twofold approach to tackling Melbourne's water crisis: it looks set to pipe water across the Great Dividing Range and build a desalination plant.

With Melbourne's dams now at an alarming 28.4 per cent capacity, the Government is locked in a round of last-minute talks, desperately trying to secure support for its plans to allow an announcement to go ahead this week.

Water Minister John Thwaites' $2.4 billion push to have recycled water replace the billions of litres used to cool Latrobe Valley power stations appears to have been defeated.

Treasurer John Brumby has won the battle to have the $2 billion north-south pipeline from the Goulburn River deemed the top priority.

The rapid change of direction comes just two months after Mr Thwaites refused to commit to a government analysis of the north-south proposal.

In a meeting on Thursday Mr Brumby warned the four mayors of Campaspe, Moira, Swan Hill and Gunnawarra councils that if they did not support the north-south plan there would be no money for infrastructure upgrades in the Goulburn Murray irrigation district, said Moira Shire Mayor Frank Malcolm.

"At the end of the meeting, though, he gave us an assurance that if there was not widespread community support up here for the project then it would not go ahead," he said.

"I can tell you now there is no support for sending our water to Melbourne. "If you thought the fight over the Nowingi toxic waste dump was bad, just wait for the fight if this project gets the go ahead."

Investigations on a desalination plant are also continuing, with Premier Steve Bracks acutely aware there is unlikely to be enough time for any of four plans under consideration to be finished before the 2010 election.

Mr Thwaites will meet Victorian Farmers Federation president Simon Ramsay today and Mr Brumby will meet him tomorrow to seek support. Cabinet is to discuss the issue again today, and in the scramble to lock in a decision:

MR BRUMBY told a public meeting in Shepparton, attended by north-south proponent Ross McPherson, up to $750 million of state money could be available to upgrade channels in the area if the project went ahead.

MR RAMSAY said that the north-south plan might not deliver secure water supplies for at least eight years.

GREATER Shepparton Mayor Jenny Houlihan said the council would agree to the water being piped to Melbourne only after local economic and environmental water needs had been met.

NATIONAL Party water spokesman Peter Walsh said the north-south plan would not deliver the water surety Melburnians expected and a non-climate dependent solution was needed.

The north-south option, first proposed by irrigators, has been supported by Mr Brumby and party heavyweight Bill Shorten. Mr Thwaites supported the plan to recycle Melbourne's sewage water currently being flushed out to sea at the Gunnamatta outfall, and sending it to Gippsland to replace the drinking water used in the power stations.

That proposal has been unpopular with party strategists, who believe it contributed to the loss of two seats in the region at the November 25 election.

Mr Ramsay was adamant yesterday the VFF would not support the north-south plan until it saw the science. "The plan is very scant on details . . . it's a little bit vague in the financial areas," he said.

Mr Ramsay said the VFF had been kept in the dark about what the Government would announce about the north-south plan. "There's no water in the Goulburn at the moment anyway so I'm not quite sure what the rush is," he said.

Government spokesman Cameron Scott said yesterday that: "We are currently examining a range of water augmentation options for the state and we will make an announcement on the way forward by the end of this year."

Goulburn Catchment landuse above offtake to Sugarloaf Reservoir

King Parrot Creek

Goulburn River near Thornton

Goulburn River near Thornton

Goulburn River near Thornton

Residue testing in response to Goulburn River Audit 2005. Date 1/10/06 (in parts per billion)

Australian Drinking Water Guidelines Health Value

Amitrole 10ppb. AMPA ?, Glyphosate 1000, 2,4-D 30

Australian Drinking Water Guidelines Value

Amitrole 1. AMPA ? Glyphosate 10. 2,4-D 0.1

LOD = Limit of Detection = 2ppb for Glyphosate and AMPA, 5ppb for 2,4-D and 0.5ppb for Amitrole.

LOQ - Limit of Quantitation = 10ppb for Glyphosate and AMPA, 10ppb for 2,4-D and 1ppb for Amitrole.

NT = Not Tested