Yarra River & Golf

Some time ago I posted an article from Warrandyte Chat, written by paintpony,
the title of which was :

URGENT INFORMATION FOR THOSE THAT CARE ABOUT THE YARRA RIVER….

Read the original article here

It appears that some of the facts in this article may have not been correct and would like to post here a response from weedge who knows more about the usage of water from the Yarra (or should I say the NO water usage) by the proposed or possible Eastern Golf Club Relocation.

Response to :

“URGENT INFORMATION FOR THOSE THAT CARE ABOUT THE YARRA RIVER….”

1.

weedge:
June 10th, 2009 at 9:10 pm

Paint Pony needs to get his or her facts correct before stirring up an environmental hornets nest about the possible Eastern Golf Club relocation. Before any development occurs the Golf Club would be required to undertake an extensive environmental impact appraisal which would be presented to State Government- Department of Sustainabilty, Local Government and Melbourne Water and given the nature of the site the maintenance of the Yarra River’s environmental status would be absolutely paramount.

The Golf club has been very open in its declaration that it will do all it can to maintain the River and it’s environs in the state that the current owners have kept it i.e the maintenance of a a large nature reserve adjoining the Yering Gorge and the continution of the planting in line with the Healthy Rivers and Ribbons of Green programs which has already involved the revegetation of the Yarra Bank with over 4000 indigenous plants. It is a pity more landowners have not followed these environmental credentials.

If Paint Pony had been a little more thorough with his/her research then it would have been established that the proposed Golf courses which are so demonized have no intention of taking ANY water from the Yarra but are instead intending to make use of the Melbourne Water “Class B” recycled water that is produced in Lilydale and will be made available for various sporting grounds, vineyards and commercial nurseries in the Yarra Valley. This seems to be a great use of previously wasted water and will have no detrimental affects on the environmental flow or water quality of the Yarra River. In addition the extensive native plantings associated with the proposed Golf course will only enhance and maintain the “broad acre” environmental nature of the area so important to the maintenance of a “green wedge” and a healthy Yarra River ecosystem which supports abundant native flora and fauna.

We all want a healthy and sustainable Yarra River but going off half cocked without presenting the full environmental picture only serves to fuel unnecessary and ill informed hysteria. I suggest that Paint Pony and others do their research throughly before stirring the pot!