More of the public needs to become aware of the serious bush fire risk and lack of community safety that will ultimately be created by Melbourne Water’s decision to drain most of the water from the 106 year old historic Beaconsfield Reservoir. This reservoir is situated inside Beaconsfield Nature Conservation Reserve and lies between Beaconsfield, Officer and Upper Beaconsfield.
With around 120,000 residents currently living in Cardinia Shire, and that number set to steadily increase over the next few years, it is time that many more residents became concerned at what is happening out of the public’s sight, and what safety issues could ultimately impact hundreds of local residents. Melbourne Water’s decision to drain the water from the reservoir will pose an existential threat from a major bush fire to the local environment, native wildlife, and residents, especially the new housing estates being built North of the Princes Highway in Beaconsfield and Officer!
At least 440 Megalitres of precious and irreplaceable water is being drained from Beaconsfield Reservoir in a controversial and unconsulted decision by Melbourne Water. There was no discussion between Melbourne Water and our communities, merely a lecture with a Power Point Presentation in 2018. That was followed a year later with six small group information sessions that Melbourne Water ran, which confirmed Melbourne Water’s preferred decision upon the local community. Any community based concerns were never discussed and the lectures were still only presented to just the townships of Upper Beaconsfield and Beaconsfield!
Officer, which is the most relevant township that could be affected by this highly improbable flood event from the reservoir, was never approached and never received the lecture, despite being just a small distance down the Princes Hwy from the other two townships. Officer is by all accounts the most likely area where this “Flood” as claimed by Melbourne Water would cross the highway, following the path of the Gum Scrub Creek. The residents in Upper Beaconsfield and Beaconsfield were never going to be affected by this claimed flood event, because either they live at a higher elevation than the reservoir, or their properties are on the other side of hills which bar any water flowing from the reservoir.
The impending loss of the water from Beaconsfield Reservoir will have a detrimental outcome in another wildfire situation, like the 1983 Ash Wednesday Fire which left a disastrous aftermath. That fire, headed along Cardinia Creek towards Beaconsfield, destroying many homes, properties and bushland, and we urgently need to retain a substantial local water supply to extinguish it using CFA helicopters. Haunting memories of that bush fire are still vividly remembered with a great deal of fear and trepidation by local residents that experienced that wildfire. If Melbourne Water is allowed to drain Beaconsfield Reservoir, then all properties and houses between Salisbury Rd and Princes Hwy in Beaconsfield and Officer will have to rely on CFA helicopters flying many more kilometres further afield to Cardinia Reservoir, filling up with water, and then flying the long distance back to houses below Beaconsfield Reservoir! It is amazing that the State Government hasn’t taken the time to consider the enormous consequences of Melbourne Water’s decision!
Melbourne Water has downplayed the concern over losing Beaconsfield Reservoir, telling the community that some water will remain in the reservoir and if required, more water will be available at Cardinia Reservoir. However Cardinia Reservoir is Melbourne’s South East drinking water, so what happens if a helicopter accidentally plunges into the reservoir with all of its surfactants and fire suppressants that CFA helicopters carry onboard? These chemicals will surely contaminate Cardinia Reservoir’s drinking water.
That’s a major catastrophe waiting to happen! Attached are photos of what the Beaconsfield
Reservoir used to look like and how it is beginning to look now that Melbourne Water and DEECA have started to drain Beaconsfield Reservoir’s water!
Harry Jensen President
Save the Beaconsfield Reservoir Action Group
