Loch Garry Update

The Loch Garry Flood Protection District Committee

Met for the second time since the new committee was established on the 11^th Jan 2023.

The first meeting held on the 15^th Jan formalised the roles within the committee, Jim Grinter was elected chairman and Roland Huber secretary, Ian and Stuart Grinter will setup a Facebook group to assist the Red Gum Courier in providing updates as necessary. The terms of the GMwater Reference group was discussed and a list of members willing to nominate endorsed.

The second meeting held on the 5^th Feb. revolved around concerns regarding the cost to repair the damaged levee banks, current operating rules and the need to change the rules to reflect the shorter time it takes for the bubble to reach Loch Garry in a major flood event. The 2022 flood was a true indicator of the speed at which the bubble had reached the Loch Garry structure as water was already pouring over the structure after 24 hours of the gauge in Shepparton reaching 10.36m

 

Inspecting the damage at Loch Garry

 

Loch Garry Reference Committee established

GMW has established a committee to review the service requirements of the Loch Garry Flood Protection District infrastructure and its operating rules.

The Loch Garry Reference Committee consists of 13 members representing various stakeholder groups.

The following applicants have been selected for the committee:

• Independent Chair (non-voting)
• Cath Botta
• GMW Loch Garry customers (‘ratepayers’)
• Colin Gilby
• James Grinter
• John Pettigrew
• Mackenzie Craig
• Linton Ryan
• Community representatives with an interest in Loch Garry operations
• Dennis Patterson
• Mathew Price
• Natalie Akers
• Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority
• Guy Tierney
• Moira Shire Council
• Cr Wayne Limbrick
• Goulburn-Murray Water
• Greg Shannon
• City of Greater Shepparton
• Peter Harriott

The committee will have its first meeting on Monday 13 February.

 

Why the service is being reviewed

It is standard protocol for GMW to review operating procedures after major flood events such as the one experienced in October 2022.

GMW will subsequently be working with Loch Garry Flood Protection customers and relevant agencies to undertake a review of the Loch Garry infrastructure and operating rules.

How will the review work?

The Loch Garry Reference Committee will guide the review of the Loch Garry infrastructure and operating rules. The committee is comprised of various stakeholders, customers, and interested community members who will meet regularly to help determine future operations at the loch.

There will also be opportunities for people outside the committee to influence the review and have their say on the committee's proposals.

 

Loch Garry operations during the 2022 Floods

The current operating rules require GMW to commence operation of the Loch Garry structure when the Goulburn River reaches 10.36m at Shepparton. The operating rules require progressive removal of the bars (25 bars removed for every 31mm increase in river height) at Loch Garry 24 hours after the river height exceeds 10.36m on the Goulburn River’s Shepparton gauge. All bars are to be removed from the structure 24 hours after the river height reaches 10.96m.

The Goulburn River reached 10.36m at the Shepparton Gauge at 12pm on Saturday, 15 October and GMW staff began removing bars from Loch Garry at 12pm on Sunday, 16 October.

Given the magnitude of this flood event staff were able to remove approximately half of the bars at the Loch before the rising water level meant it was physically impossible and unsafe for them to continue.

The Goulburn River reached 10.36m at the Shepparton Gauge at 12pm on Saturday, 15 October and GMW staff began removing bars from Loch Garry at 12pm on Sunday, 16 October.

Given the magnitude of this flood event staff were able to remove approximately half of the bars at the Loch before the rising water level meant it was physically impossible and unsafe for them to continue.

The Goulburn River reached 10.36m at the Shepparton Gauge at 12pm on Saturday, 15 October and GMW staff began removing bars from Loch Garry at 12pm on Sunday, 16 October.

Given the magnitude of this flood event staff were able to remove approximately half of the bars at the Loch before the rising water level meant it was physically impossible and unsafe for them to continue.

 

Background

Situated at Bunbartha, the Loch Garry flood regulator is a 48 bay structure made up of 8” and 8.5” drop bars. It is operated to achieve the intent of the agreement (1925) between landholders and the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission (now GMW), to allow the same proportion out of the lake as flowed into the lake prior to the inception of the levees once the Goulburn River rose to 34ft on the new gauge at Shepparton.