Status
On this page:
Background
Lower Murray Urban and Rural Water Corporation (LMW) proposes to undertake the Victorian Murray Floodplain Restoration Project (VMFRP) which consists of nine discrete sub-projects: Gunbower, Guttrum-Benwell, Vinifera, Nyah, Burra Creek, Hattah Lakes North, Belsar-Yungera, Wallpolla Island and Lindsay Island.
The Gunbower National Park (Gunbower) Floodplain Restoration Project aims to return a more natural flooding regime to improve the ecological condition across approximately 632 hectares of the Murray River floodplain within the Gunbower National Park.
The Guttrum and Benwell Forests (Guttrum-Benwell) Floodplain Restoration Project aims to return a more natural flooding regime to 1,149 hectares within the Guttrum and Benwell Forests, to improve its ecological condition.
The works proposed for these projects will include construction of:
- large and small regulators
- fishways
- containment structures
- temporary cofferdams
- spillways
- pump stations and associated power supply
- pipelines
- channel upgrade
- culvert crossings
- drop structures
- drainage outlets
- floodrunner works
- erosion control works
- new access tracks and realignments/upgrades to existing access tracks
- borrow pit sites to supply fill material to support construction.
The Minister for Planning’s decisions not to require an EES under the Environment Effects Act 1978 (the Act) for both the Gunbower and Guttrum-Benwell projects does require an environment report process to be undertaken, to assess each project’s potentially significant environmental effects. (See the Reasons for decisions below).
EES preparation
Scoping document
The core scope of the environment report is included within the conditions set by the Minister in his decision on the EES referrals. A scoping document has been prepared by DELWP to help specify these matters needing to be investigated and documented by the proponent in the environment report and supporting technical studies.
Consultation plan
LMW has prepared a consultation plan for the environment report process, outlining the opportunities and approaches for its community engagement during the preparation of the environment report.
The addendum below provides further details of specific consultation activities planned.
The plan and addendum may be updated as required during the preparation of the environment report. If updates are made, the updated versions will be posted on this page.
Technical reference group
DELWP has convened an inter-agency technical reference group to support all nine VMFRP sub-projects being assessed under the Act. The TRG will be used to advise the proponent and DELWP on the development of the environment report. This includes advising, as appropriate, on scoping and adequacy of the technical studies conducted by the proponent to support the preparation of the environment report, as well as coordination with relevant statutory approval processes.
The organisations represented on the technical reference group are:
- DTP – Impact Assessment (chair)
- DEECA – Loddon Mallee Region
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
- Earth Resources Regulation
- Department of Transport and Planning
- First Peoples State Relations
- Heritage Victoria
- Relevant Registered Aboriginal Parties
- Relevant Local Councils
- Relevant Catchment Management Authorities
- Parks Victoria
- Lower Murray Water
- Goulburn Murray Water
- Environment Protection Authority
Minister's decision on referral
On 06 December 2020 the Minister for Planning decided that an environment effects statement was not required for the two projects, subject to conditions being met. The Minister’s decisions require LMW to prepare an environment report (in lieu of an EES) under the Environment Effects Act 1978 to assess and manage specific potentially significant environmental effects of the both the Gunbower and Guttrum-Benwell projects.
Project contact
If you have any questions or feedback, please get in touch via the contact details below.
Lower Murray Water
Proposed Gunbower National Park Floodplain Restoration Project and Guttrum and Benwell Forests Floodplain Restoration Project queries:
Explore the restoration projects
✉ Email: info@vmfrp.vic.gov.au
Page last updated: 26/06/24