Corowa locals pay thanks to Minister
Published on 13 October 2021
Corowa locals have expressed their appreciation for Minister for the Environment, Member for Farrer, the Hon Sussan Ley MP following culvert works completed at Dairy Lagoon, which has resulted in water reentering the former dry lagoon system.
Stretching behind the Corowa Golf Course, Dairy Lagoon is home to native wildlife, including Murray cod, turtles, and bird life. In recent years, the lagoon water levels slowly depleted as a result of irrigation build up and a blocked culvert. This has prevented water from the Murray River from entering the system.
In January of this year, the lagoon was reduced to five small pools of water and on the brink of drying out. Local residents began raising the alarm to Member for Farrer Sussan Ley, as water levels in the lagoon dwindled and fish began to perish.
Corowa local Phillip Naughtin said it was overwhelming to see the flow of water through the Dairy Lagoon at present, after above average rainfall over winter slowly refilled the lagoon and recent channel clearing allowed water to re-enter the system.
“I will never forgot the day that we were at the Corowa Races and our Minister of Environment, Sussan Ley was there as well,” he said.
“I knew Sussan was there for a social outing, but I knew how serious the situation was getting and thought I would bring it to her attention to see if there was any advice she could give. Well, from that moment on we gained Sussan’s support straight away and she insisted on coming to see Dairy Lagoon then and there.”
Mr Naughtin said it is not very often that you hear of a Minister that just stops what they are doing at a social outing on a Sunday to come and investigate a problem.
“You could see that she was just as passionate as what we locals were about the issue,” he said.
“Straight away she was in contact with the right people and that got us our result. I would really like to take this opportunity to thank Sussan, NSW DPI and Federation Council representatives that all worked together to ensure the Lagoon could thrive again. To see the flow in the lagoon, turtles and fish is something else and there are many Corowa locals who are very thankful for their commitment to our water ways, the home of our native wildlife.”