Erosion levels in a Murray River section have more than doubled in the past seven years, according to monitoring carried out by Murray Darling Basin Authority.
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The draft erosion management plan now out for public consultation said 27 per cent of the Ovens Reach’s 38 kilometres of riverbank was now classified as actively eroding.
Located between Corowa and the Ovens River junction, the Reach in 2009 had about 4.2km of eroded riverbank, with 280 metres deemed high priority.
“In 2016, there was more than 10km of eroded riverbank with 4.5km of this classified as high priority,” the plan said.
“Although bank erosion has been and will always be a natural process, the rate of erosion can be accelerated by other forces such as river regulation, vegetation clearance, stock access and high boat wash activities.”
The draft plan, being led by Roads and Maritime Services and Murray Darling Basin Authority, proposes a three-year trial of a vessel wash restriction zone between South Corowa and the junction of the Ovens River.
The idea has concerned the boating industry and tourism operators but some river users welcome a ban, saying wake enhancement has disrupted other water activities in recent years.
Member for Benambra Bill Tilley, who met with RMS, MDBA and Federation Council representatives about the issue last week, said authorities needed to explain the proposal clearly.
“It’s not about banning the vessels from travelling and traversing the Murray, it’s about how you use the vessel in certain sections,” he said.
“I’ll continue to talk with the boat industry and hopefully the transparent, clear messages will go out there.”
As part of the summer consultation, community information sessions will be held in Bundalong (January 15), Yarrawonga (February 13) and Corowa (February 15). Feedback can also be given online, emailed to MurrayRiverErosion@rms.nsw.gov.au or posted to Murray River Erosion Project, Roads and Maritime Services, Locked Bag 5100, Camperdown NSW 1450.
Mr Tilley said NSW managed the river, but most visitors came from the southern state.
“Ninety per cent of all those river towns, when it comes to the annual pilgrimage, they’re Victorians,” he said. “It’s getting the balance, getting it right, usage, the economy, the environment.”
