Geelong Water Supplies. Wurdee Boluc Aquaduct + Moorabool River Catchment

Jan 07: Cropping in close vicinity to Pennyroyal Creek, upstream of weir inside Geelong domestic water supply. Also note pine plantation on eastern side of creek about 1km upstream from Pennyroyal Creek offtake. Probably 15-20ha of pine would have been of most concern and within the water supply itself. The herbicide hexazinone would most likely be used after pine clearing - meaning ~100kg of hexazinone. Between September 2013 and December 2013, three herbicides were detected in this water supply: Triclopyr, 2,4-D and MCPA.

Sep 11: Logged pine plantation on eastern side of Penny Royal Creek (owned by AKD), not replanted or sprayed as yet. Plantation was logged during 2008. Unsure if plantation is to be replanted.

The most serious concern [in regards to Victorian water supply pollution 1996-2007] appears to be the open aquaduct supply system to both Wurdee Boluc Reservoir and Stony Creek Reservoirs managed by Barwon Water (Geelong and district drinking water). Three instances of pesticides (2,4-D & Glyphosate) entering the Wurdee Boluc system have been detected in the past 4 years (An additional 15 instances were detected in the Wurdee Boluc System between July 2007-July 2008). One incident possibly lasting for some time (3 months), with 2,4-D readings in May 2003 breaching the ADWG health value, however this was not widely known because it occurred before July 1 2004, when such an incident would have to have been reported under the Safe Drinking Water Act. High readings of 2,4-D were also recorded by Barwon Water in August 2003 at Wurdee Boluc and Stony Creek Reservoir #3. The May Wurdee Boluc 2,4-D Incident, remains the only example of pesticide levels breaching the ADWG health value anywhere in the state over the 1998-2007 period. The Stony Creek Reservoir incident also recorded relatively high levels of 2,4-D in August 2003, 66% of ADWG health value and 200 times higher than the ADWG guideline value.(2,4-D was also detected in the Moorabool system June 2008). It is clear that agricultural practices, cropping, in close proximity to the aquaducts are the culprits for this pollution. Was an audit of cropping located nearby the aquaducts conducted by Barwon Water and why did three seperate incidents occur within a 3 month time frame with the same pesticide? Friends of the Earth September 2008.

Pesticide Detections Barwon Water/Geelong System 1999 - August 2016 (Wurdee Boluc and Moorabool River Catchments)

120 positive pesticide detections (the most serious relating to detections of 2,4-D in 2003). 54 (45%) of the detections relate to Hexazinone leaching from Korweingaboora pine plantation managed by Hancock Victorian Plantations. 24 postive detections for MCPA, 14 positive readings for 2,4-D, 10 positive readings for Atrazine, 5 positive detections for Triclopyr, 4 for Temephos*, 3 postive detections for 4 chlorophenoxyacetic acid, 1 positive result for Glyphosate, 1 positive result for Dieldrin, 1 positive sample for 245TCP, 1 positive sample for Pirimicarb, 1 positive sample for propachlor and for 1 Dicamba.

69 (57.5%) of detections occurred in the Moorabool System, with 51 (42.5%) detections in the Wurdee Boluc Aquaduct System.

5/12/11 Barwon Water Wurdee Boluc WTP Raw Water Pirimicarb 1.1ug/L (15.71% adwgh)

20/9/11 Barwon Water Wurdee Boluc Inlet Channel @ Salt Creek Lane MCPA 0.1ug/L (0.25% adwgh)

27/8/16 Barwon Water Wurdee Boluc Inlet at Salt Creek Lane 2,4-D 0.04ug/L (0.1333% adwg)

31/1/05 Barwon Water Stony Creek Reservoir #3 Hexazinone 0.21ug/L (0.0525%adwgh)

*18/12/07 Barwon Water Wurdee Boluc Inlet Salt Creek Lane Temephos 0.02ug/L (0.005%adwgh)

9/10/08 Barwon Water Moorabool WTP Combined Raw Water Hexazinone 0.014ug/L (0.0035%adwgh)

18/9/07 Barwon Water Wurdee Boluc @ Salt Creek Lane 4, chlorophenoxy acetic acid 0.04ug/L

18/9/07 Barwon Water Wurdee Boluc @ Brickmakers Rd 4, chlorophenoxy acetic acid 0.01ug/L

15/12/09 Barwon Water Wurdee Boluc @ Salt Creek Lane 4, chlorophenoxy acetic acid 0.01ug/L

Organochlorines: 4,4-DDD, 4,4-DDE, 4,4-DDT, Aldrin, BHC-a, BHC-b, BHC-d, Cis-Chlordane, Dieldrin, Endosulphan 1, Endosulphan 2, Endosulphan Sulphate, Endrin, Endrin Aldehyde, Heptachlor, Heptachlor Epoxide, Hexachlorobenzene, Lindane, Methoxychlor, Trans-Chlordane. Organophosphorus: Chlopyrifos, Coumphanos, Demeton-S, Diazinon, Dichlorvos, EPN, Fensulfonthion, Fenthion, Malathion, Methyl Parathion, Monocrotophos, Parathion, Phorate, Prohos, Ronnel, Tetrachlorvinphos, Tetraethyldithiopyrophos, Trichlorinate, Tukuthion.

Herbicides: 2,4,5-T, 2,4,5-TP, 2,4,6-T, 2,4-D, 2,4-DB, 2,4-DP, 2,6-D, 4-Chlorophenoxy acetic acid, Dicamba, MCBP, Mecoprop, Triclopyr. Herbicides 2: Clopyralid, Hexazinone, Molinate, Picloran, Temephos Herbicides 3: Paraquat, Diquat NMI Org 1: Atrazine, Chlofenvinphos, Diuron, Endosulphan, Propiconazole, Glyphosate. NMI Org 4: Mancozeb, Metiram, Amitrole. NMI Org 5: Quintozene, Phorate, Pirimicarb, Chlorothalonil, Propachlor.

Friends of the Earth in 2010 produced a report highlighting lack of testing of pesticides used in cropping and pasture in Victoria for pesticides most at risk of polluting waterways. The most at risk pesticides included; Herbicides: 2,4-D, Amitrole, Atrazine, Chlorthal Dimethyl, Clopyralid, Dicamba, Diquat, Diuron, Ethofumesate, Glyphosate, Hexazinone, Imazapic, Imazethapyr, Metsulfuron Methyl, Molinate, Picloram, Propyzamide, Sethoxydim, Simazine, Tebuthiuron, Terbacil, Terbutyrn, Thiobencarb, Paraquat, Prometryn. Insecticides: Carbaryl, Diazinon, Dimethoate, Disulfoton, Endosulfan, Fipronil, Imidacloprid, Maldison, Methidathion, Methomyl, Phosmet. Fungicides: Metalaxyl. Note that many of these pesticides (~24) (not in italics and bolded) remain untested for by current Barwon Water testing regimes.

Wurdee Boluc Catchment

12/5/03 Australia's highest level of 2,4-D in a domestic water supply (Wurdee Boluc Raw Water) 34ug/L

19/8/03 Australia's second highest level of 2,4-D in a domestic water supply (Wurdee Boluc Inlet Channel) 27ug/l

5/12/11 Victoria's second highest level of Pirimicarb in a domestic water supply (Wurdee Boluc WTP Raw Water) 1.1ug/L

17/9/13 Victoria's highest level of MCPA in a domestic water supply (Matthews Creek) 4.6ug/L

4/12/13 Victoria's highest level of Proplachlor in a domestic water supply (Wurdee Boluc) 1.8ug/L

16/12/14 Victoria's second highest level of Triclopyr in a domestic water supply (Matthews Creek) 0.21ug/L

Map of headwaters of Wurdee Boluc system. Water is sourced from this catchment and transported to Wurdee Boluc Reservoir via an aquaduct. Light blue represents native forests, brown represents pine plantations and yellow represents hardwood plantations. The Midways plantations (marked M) represent approximately 300ha of land in Goslings Creek and Timmins Creek. The Goslings Creek plantations lie within the water supply and amount to approximately 200ha and are likely to be replanted as bluegum. The AKD plantations are located in Matthews Creek within the water supply and represent 150ha of land. The most crucial time for these plantations is clearly during logging and subsequent application of herbicides. Note the water authority only tests for Terbacil and Malathion. 1500ha of farmland mainly used for cattle grazing also occurs within the water supply, with small areas of farmland along the aquaduct connecting West Barwon Dam and Wurdee Boluc Reservoir with high risk of runoff into aquaduct.

Pesticides used by Midway include:

Herbicides: Roundup CT, Simazine , Metsulfuron Methyl, Clopyralid, Terbacil, Sulfometuron Methyl

Surfactants: Liase, Wetter TX,

Insecticides: Maldison 50 , Dimethoate , Dominex , Fastac.

". . . while dimethoate is registered for use on trees including eucalypts in WA it is permissable to use it off-label for a similar purpose in Victoria. However it is not allowed to be aerial sprayed on non-food tree crops including eucalypts anywhere in Australia without a special permit from the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority." Vic Gov: Sep 05.

9 (17.6 %) of the 51 detections in the Wurdee Boluc catchment between 1999 - 2016 relate to the use of 2,4-D.

24 (47.1%) of the 51 detections in the Wurdee Boluc Catchment between 1999 - 2016 relate to the use of MCPA.

5/12/11 Barwon Water Wurdee Boluc WTP Raw Water Pirimicarb 1.1ug/L (15.71% adwgh)

20/9/11 Barwon Water Wurdee Boluc Inlet Channel @ Salt Creek Lane MCPA 0.1ug/L (0.25% adwgh)

*18/12/07 Barwon Water Wurdee Boluc Inlet Salt Creek Lane Temephos 0.02ug/L (0.005%adwgh)

18/9/07 Barwon Water Wurdee Boluc @ Salt Creek Lane 4, chlorophenoxy acetic acid 0.04ug/L

18/9/07 Barwon Water Wurdee Boluc @ Brickmakers Rd 4, chlorophenoxy acetic acid 0.01ug/L

15/12/09 Barwon Water Wurdee Boluc @ Salt Creek Lane 4, chlorophenoxy acetic acid 0.01ug/L

Goslings Creek - Midway Plantations, soon to be converted to bluegums. Simazine can be applied in plantations at 5kg/ha, meaning a potential use of 1 tonne of Simazine over a 1 year period.

September 2011. Gosling Creek plantation, owned by Midway now being clearfelled. Approximately 200ha of Midways plantations lie in this catchment, meaning two tonnes of simazine to be applied if converted to bluegums. This plantation is situated about 4km from Gosling Creek offtake. Gosling Creek is however not utilised by Barwon Water.

October 2008: AKD Pine Plantation, Penny Royal Creek. Recent logging of a 30ha plantation, with 10-15ha lieing in the Geelong Water supply.

Oct 08: Canola planted close to aquaduct near Deans Marsh Road. October 2008: Canola now being grown adjacent to Wurdee Boluc Inlet Channel (5km west of Deans Marsh) possibly meaning higher potential for pollution from agrochemicals into Geelong drinking water. This is the first instance recorded of canola being grown in such close proximity to the channel and could represent a new hazard to water quality if grown in large enough areas, particularly areas upslope of the supply channel. The channel can be seen running through the yellow canalo field. In 2008 about 100 hecatres of canola was planted at this location. Unsure whether it was Triazine Tolerant Canola.

October 2008: Buffer width on aquaduct at this location - Birregurra Deans Marsh Road. Spray drift potential?

Pesticide volumes per hectare per year (one source Victoria) Pesticide Canola: Atrazine/Herbicide 3 litres, Endosulfan/Insecticide 0.5 litres, Ester Up to 0.8 litres Up, Fastac/Insecticide (Alpha-Cypermethrin 10%, Xylene 75%) 0.1 litre, Fusilade/Herbicide (Fluazifop-P-Butyl It), Roundup/Herbicide 1.2 to 2 litres, Simazine/Herbicide 2.5 to 3 litres Sprayseed/Herbicide (Paraquat dichloride 135g/L+Diquat dibromide monohydrate 115g/L) 2.0 to 3 litres Verdict/Herbicide (Haloxyfop R -methyl ester) 60ml.

September 2011: Canola Crop located in close vicinity to southern side of Wurdi Boluc Reservoir. In places the canola is within 200m of the reservoir.

September 2011: Wurdi Boluc Inlet Channel, with backed up stagnant water in close proximity to it near Gosling Creek offtake.

October 2008: Timbercorp Bluegum plantations in close proximity to Pennyroyal Creek extension. If aerial spraying occurs, risk of spray drift.

Mooroobool Catchment Map

Purple=Hancock Pine. Dark Brown=Pine Plantations. Yellow=Bluegum Plantations. Dark Tan=Pasture. Light Tan=Cropping. Green=Native Vegetation.

54 (78.3%) of the 69 pesticide detections in the Moorobool catchment 1998-2014 relate to the Hexazinone incident at Korweinguboora. All pesticide detections in the catchment have been hexazinone, atrazine and 2,4-D. No detections since July 2011.

31/1/05 Barwon Water Stony Creek Reservoir #3 Hexazinone 0.21ug/L (0.0525%adwgh)

9/10/08 Barwon Water Moorabool WTP Combined Raw Water Hexazinone 0.014ug/L (0.0035%adwgh)

Korweinguboora Plantation, 1400ha of pine plantations managed by Hancock Victorian Plantations lie in the headwaters of Moorobool System.

An empty Stony Creek Reservoir, one of three reservoirs in the south of the catchment.

Eclipse Creek/Moorobool Catchment - Midway bluegum plantations being established.

Pesticides & Geelong Water Supply

Wurdee Boluc Aquaduct & Moorabool River Catchments

Distance Between Upper Barwon Dam and Wurdee Boluc Reservoir: ~40km.

October 6 2011: Mining Fuels Protests

July 28 2011: Otway Coal Push Abandoned After Backlash

July 27 2011: Coalmine Worries Deans Marsh

July 22 2011: Coal Mining Could Threaten Geelong's Drinking Water Quality

July 19 2011: Greens Condemn Otways Coal Plan (Geelongs Water Supply)

July 18 2011: Otways Brown Coal Mine Bid (map here)

June 22 2011: Mantle Mining Deans Marsh Coal Project Application

Pesticide Detections Barwon Water/Geelong System 1999 - August 2016 (Wurdee Boluc and Moorabool River Catchments)

Wurdee Boluc Catchment

12/5/03 Australia's highest level of 2,4-D in a domestic water supply (Wurdee Boluc Raw Water) 34ug/L

19/8/03 Australia's second highest level of 2,4-D in a domestic water supply (Wurdee Boluc Inlet Channel) 27ug/l

5/12/11 Victoria's second highest level of Pirimicarb in a domestic water supply (Wurdee Boluc WTP Raw Water) 1.1ug/L

17/9/13 Victoria's highest level of MCPA in a domestic water supply (Matthews Creek) 4.6ug/L

4/12/13 Victoria's highest level of Proplachlor in a domestic water supply (Wurdee Boluc) 1.8ug/L

16/12/14 Victoria's second highest level of Triclopyr in a domestic water supply (Matthews Creek) 0.21ug/L

Pesticides used by Midway include:

Herbicides: Roundup CT, Simazine , Metsulfuron Methyl, Clopyralid, Terbacil, Sulfometuron Methyl

Surfactants: Liase, Wetter TX,

Insecticides: Maldison 50 , Dimethoate , Dominex , Fastac.

Mooroobool Catchment Map

54 (78.3%) of the 69 pesticide detections in the Moorobool catchment 1998-2014 relate to the Hexazinone incident at Korweinguboora. All pesticide detections in the catchment have been hexazinone, atrazine and 2,4-D. No detections since July 2011.

Pesticides & Geelong Water Supply

Wurdee Boluc Aquaduct & Moorabool River Catchments

Distance Between Upper Barwon Dam and Wurdee Boluc Reservoir: ~40km.

October 6 2011: Mining Fuels Protests

July 28 2011: Otway Coal Push Abandoned After Backlash

July 27 2011: Coalmine Worries Deans Marsh

July 22 2011: Coal Mining Could Threaten Geelong's Drinking Water Quality

July 19 2011: Greens Condemn Otways Coal Plan (Geelongs Water Supply)

July 18 2011: Otways Brown Coal Mine Bid (map here)

June 22 2011: Mantle Mining Deans Marsh Coal Project Application

Pesticide Detections Barwon Water/Geelong System 1999 - August 2016 (Wurdee Boluc and Moorabool River Catchments)

Wurdee Boluc Catchment

12/5/03 Australia's highest level of 2,4-D in a domestic water supply (Wurdee Boluc Raw Water) 34ug/L

19/8/03 Australia's second highest level of 2,4-D in a domestic water supply (Wurdee Boluc Inlet Channel) 27ug/l

5/12/11 Victoria's second highest level of Pirimicarb in a domestic water supply (Wurdee Boluc WTP Raw Water) 1.1ug/L

17/9/13 Victoria's highest level of MCPA in a domestic water supply (Matthews Creek) 4.6ug/L

4/12/13 Victoria's highest level of Proplachlor in a domestic water supply (Wurdee Boluc) 1.8ug/L

16/12/14 Victoria's second highest level of Triclopyr in a domestic water supply (Matthews Creek) 0.21ug/L

Pesticides used by Midway include:

Herbicides: Roundup CT, Simazine, Metsulfuron Methyl, Clopyralid, Terbacil, Sulfometuron Methyl

Surfactants: Liase, Wetter TX,

Insecticides: Maldison 50, Dimethoate, Dominex, Fastac.

Mooroobool Catchment Map

54 (78.3%) of the 69 pesticide detections in the Moorobool catchment 1998-2014 relate to the Hexazinone incident at Korweinguboora. All pesticide detections in the catchment have been hexazinone, atrazine and 2,4-D. No detections since July 2011.

Herbicides: Roundup CT, Simazine , Metsulfuron Methyl, Clopyralid, Terbacil, Sulfometuron Methyl

Insecticides: Maldison 50 , Dimethoate , Dominex , Fastac.