General News
28 June, 2022
Petition launched to save Curdies River
LOCALS have been urged to sign a petition calling on the Victorian Government to take the health of the Curdies River seriously.
LOCALS have been urged to sign a petition calling on the Victorian Government to take the health of the Curdies River seriously.
Petition organiser Priscilla Hough-Davies launched the petition last week.
She said it would remain open until August 12.
Ms Hough-Davies said the goal of the petition is to show the government hundreds of Victorians want the government to “treat this issue very seriously”.
“A few reports have been written over the past 17 years. The reports identify the problems and potential solutions, but the various authorities have not had the funding to carry out the solutions,” she said.
“It hasn’t been treated urgently, and no single agency has taken overall responsibility.
“We want them to take urgent action.
“We want them to develop and properly fund a clear action plan, and vest responsibility with one agency or organisation that is accountable to the community.”
Ms Hough-Davies said within 48 hours of it launching, more than 200 signatures hadbeen received.
“This shows that people who know the Curdies are really worried about it,” she said.
“The problem has been a long time in the making and it will be a long time in the fixing.
“But there is now a sense of urgency given how bad this most recent blue-green algae outbreak has been.”
In recent months thousands of fish, along with about 10 dead cows have been reported in the river system following an outbreak of toxic blue-green algae.
The community has called for more action on the issue.
Ms Hough-Davies said there was a “lot of people affected by this issue”.
“It’s not only about the environmental impacts,” she said.
“The health of the river affects people’s livelihoods and wellbeing, including farmers, fishers, tourism operator, tourists and residents.”
To sign the digital petition residents can Google ‘Curdies parliament petition’ and then follow the link to ‘Curdies River Catchment’.
Ms Hough-Davies said paper copies of the petition were being distributed in businesses throughout the catchment area, including Peterborough, Timboon, Cobden, Terang and Camperdown.