Invitation May 6th Forum - Special Water Supply Catchment Area

Want to find out more about how the Special Water Supply Catchment Area affects you? Currently we have offered conditional support for the determination BUT a possible outcome, once members are satisfied that their concerns have been addressed, is unconditional support. Please come and have your say…. numbers and breadth of viewpoint will be important.

The Forum on May 6th (10.30am at the Youth Club Hall) replaces the postponed event on April 8th. Members are advised to read the letter dated 5th February 2006 from OBCLG to SOLN and Don Forsyth of the CCMA. The contents of ‘conditional support for the determination of the Special Water Supply Catchment Area’ will form a significant part of the agenda. http://obclg.org/2006/03/20/response-to-soln-conditional-support/

The agencies involved in the Otway Barham Catchment Reference Group have been asked to provide a range of information that will support our understanding. A detailed agenda will be forwarded to you once it has been completed. We will be snailmailing all landholders in the Otway Barham Catchment to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate. Landcare membership is required for attendance. Landholders paying a membership now will be covered for the 2006-2007 period. http://obclg.org/2006/03/20/membership-application-form/

Background: from President of the OBCLG, Denise Hooke:

At the last meeting of the Otway Barham Catchment Reference Group comprising of Barwon Water, Colac Otway Shire, SOLN and the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (I represented the Otway Barham Group while Bruce Costin represented SOLN) a letter was received from Don Forsyth which advised that he did not feel that he could proceed with the determination of the Special Water Supply Catchment as our Landcare Group had only given Conditional Support. I advised that we could not lift the Conditional Support status until such time that the conditions had been dealt with and only then would it be the Landcare Group that would move a motion to say that there was now full support for the Special Water Supply Catchment Declaration.

You are invited to a forum to discuss conditional support for the Special Water Supply Catchment on May 6th at 10.30am at the Youth Club Hall. The agencies would like this set up as a large round table forum. In attendance will be Landcare Group members, on-the-ground people from Colac Otway Shire, CCMA and Barwon Water including people at management level from each of the authorities. Following this session landholders will have the opportunity to discuss their own personal circumstances with officers from the authorities.

A BBQ lunch will be provided by the Otway Barham Catchment Landcare Group following the Forum. To assist us with catering please advise either Simon or Denise asap.