This is an honest chat that reflects only my own thoughts. It could be long and wrong and at this point I feel kind of like a haggard woman who keeps barking at people (respectfully, I hope). I never, ever thought I’d be the sort of person who would tag politicians in social media posts and speak to media about our broken little town. I feel like a bit of a wanker to be honest.
Probably there are people outside of our area that are sick of me banging on about flood stuff, I’m sorry. You have supported me and comforted me, even loved me, when I have shared my most personal stories. I know that is not true of many places on the internet and I feel a real responsibility to not cock it up, to protect it, to not push people away.
Last night I was lucky enough to listen to the most inspiring woman, Rabia Siddique, speak in Echuca. I cannot do her story or her resilience any sort of justice by describing it here, but if you ever get the chance to hear her speak, take the opportunity. I’m ordering her book tonight because she left such a mark on me and I want to read back over the words that felt so profound last night.
Hearing Rabia speak only served to entrench my belief that when something needs changing we have to speak up about it. She spoke about using our sphere of influence to create ripples of change, about the power of one person. I see that in our community. Lighthouses everywhere. Our community house, our community page, our front-line shop owners and workers who provide a soft landing place when people need to get things off their chest. But there’s more than that. Quiet people who work behind the scenes to get things done, funny people who offer comedic relief, generous people who have given more than any of us know, sincere people who tell you it’s not alright, it’s actually pretty shit.
Yesterday, no doubt due to the pressure (extra)ordinary people like you have placed on them, Goulburn Murray Water issued a statement about how they’re managing the water levels at Lake Eppalock, which as of today sits at 97.42% full.
The statement was disappointing to me, because it missed the opportunity to answer the question that most of us want answered, that is, why is only the smallest amount of water (150ML/day for environmental flows) being released when the outlet valve can release up to 1600ML/day?
We don’t need reassurance that the SES and BoM will inform of us of flood advice, we’ve lived that experience, and we know there is nothing reassuring about it. What we would like is to avoid the need to get flood warnings in the first place.
I am not a hydrologist or anything resembling an expert in the management of water, I’m a busy mum who forgets where she has put her keys and struggles to park her car in tight spaces. Like everyone else I am relying on those who know what’s happening to act in our best interests, and I’m relying on them to be transparent about why they are doing what they are doing. A lack of information can sometimes lead to people making up their own information, which is not often good.
Most of us in Rochester now understand that Lake Eppalock has a fixed crest spillway. We know this means they cannot release large volumes of water as is done with other water storages like Lake Eildon. When the bathtub fills up, it spills, uncontrolled, over the edge, straight towards our low-lying communities. That is something we hope can be changed in the future through engineering solutions determined by experts. That’s what we wrote hundreds of submissions to the flood inquiry for. But realistically, an engineering solution could be years away.
In the short term, if there are regulatory changes that can be made so that Goulburn Murray Water can release the maximum output of 1600 ML/d in times of high saturation, that would be a start. If only to have us feel that everything that can be done, is actually being done.
In the short term, the communication between government departments, water management, and at-risk communities can be improved, if only to keep us informed so that we not making up worst case scenarios or unhelpful rumours.
Currently, with the lake at 97.42% of its capacity, as per the latest statement from GMW, they are only releasing about 150ML/d for environmental flows. 1600ML/d might still be a pittance but over a week that equates to 11,200ML, which over a month or so might provide some much-needed air space. But clearly, that needs to be done long before flood warnings are issued.
Am I naïve and ignorant about how this all works? I have absolutely no doubt.
But if there is nothing that can or will be done in the short term, someone needs to openly say it, so residents in our communities can make an informed decision about their future.
Today, because you amazing people shared that last post over 500 times, I got a call from the Hon. Jaclyn Symes’ office. I think maybe every time you shared the post, those who were tagged got a notification, which must have been pretty annoying. It was a genuine call to see how they could help. I shared the distress of our community and I was listened to. I feel confident we will have an informative answer tomorrow regarding why only the bare minimum is being released and how confident they are that our community will be safe. I know many of you contacted Harriet Shing’s office and I know you have made a difference. You are lighthouses. You are using your sphere of influence.
Friends, I have so much hope for our community. I need you to hang onto it too. I know you are cold and tired and so far beyond anything you ever thought you were capable of, but you are doing it. I’m not going anywhere and neither are all of the lighthouses around you.
Biggest love,
Eliza
(Cynical comments are not helpful to fragile people, please don’t leave them here tonight.)
podgy hodgy 