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The Thomson River, as seen from the Port of Sale precinct on Friday.

Photo: Tom Parry Thomson watch

AUTHORITIES are seeking to allay fears of flooding along the Thomson River. The concerns arose amid reports that the Thomson Reservoir would reach capacity and spill over for the first time in 25 years. The catchment, which is under the authority of Melbourne Water, was sitting at 99.1 per cent full as of 9am Monday. When asked for comment by the Gippsland Times, a spokesperson for Melbourne Water downplayed the chances of a spill. “In this weather event, we don’t expect (Thomson Reservoir) to reach capacity,” the spokesperson said. “However, we’re well prepared to minimise potential impacts downstream should they arise.” Thomson Reservoir is a man-made catchment purpose-built to supply water to the Melbourne metropolitan region. The catchment empties into the Thomson River, which flows through Sale. As of Monday 9am, water levels at the Sale Wharf were steady at 1.47 metres in depth, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. While heavy rains across northern and central parts of Victoria has seen catchments and tributaries become swollen, there is currently no risk of severe flooding in Wellington Shire, says BOM.

Nats pledge $5m for groynes to stop Loch Sport erosion

Tom Parry

THE Nationals have pledged to build more groynes in Loch Sport should the Liberal-National coalition form government in November. Incumbent MP and Nationals candidate for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien, made the pledge in Loch Sport on Friday. Mr O’Brien told an assembly of local residents that the coalition, if elected, would provide $5 million to fix the ongoing erosion issue along the Lake Victoria foreshore with “the preferred option” of the community, “which is to install more groynes”. His announcement was warmly received by those in attendance, including Loch Sport resident Denise Warham, who praised Mr O’Brien’s commitment to the erosion issue. “We think it’s wonderful and we have always been very impressed with Danny’s assistance, which is the way so many of us feel - I mean, there’s so many places that he could be working on, but he really has been there for Loch Sport,” Ms Warham said. The funding commitment for Loch Sport comes after the release of a state government report in August detailing measures aimed at preventing erosion in the town. Among the measures detailed are the placement of more sand along the foreshore, rock walls and offshore shellfish reefs, as well as groynes. Mr O’Brien believed that installing groynes would be “the permanent solution” to the erosion issue. “I think all the other things are nice to have as short-term solutions, but to actually fix it is to get those groynes in,” he said. In a statement after the announcement, Mr O’Brien stated he was “open” to trialling other

Danny O’Brien with residents at the Seagull Drive boat ramp in Loch Sport.

Photo: Contributed

methods, “but not at the expense of any further delays”. He also took aim at the ruling Labor government, accusing it of “dithering” and not acting fast enough on the issue. “It’s just a matter of time before there are further incursions onto public land and ultimately onto private land if action isn’t taken,” Mr O’Brien said. Ms Warham echoed that sentiment, saying: “the time for even more study is over, and work has to begin”. The Liberal-National coalition is currently an outside chance to win government at the state election in November, with most political researchers and pundits tipping a Labor victory. When queried about this fact by a local resident on Friday, Mr O’Brien said he would keep working towards getting a good outcome for Loch Sport.