A CATCHMENT group sceptical about Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity reasons for commission a review and survey of projects integral to completing the Upper South East Dryland Salinity and Flood Management Program says understanding of specifics in the broader community "will almost certainly be very poor".
While DWLBC next month hopes to release its findings to assess risks and community perceptions of the drainage package, the catchment group says every additional delay increases the difficulty and cost of completing the $72 million project before the December deadline.
"An overriding concern ... is that the process of review and surveys is dragging on and on, and is already months past the original completion date," spokesman for the Bald Hill/Wimpinmerit Catchment Group Peter England, Blackford Merinos, said.
"The timeline for the ecological review ... has already blown out from the projected one month to more than four months. Even once this report is delivered, there will be further delays while the project team responds and while the Parliamentary Natural Resources Committee considers the report to finalise their recommendations to the Minister."
Program leader of the USEDSFMP Jane Hosking said there were two components of the scheme scheduled for construction this year the Bald Hill/Wimpinmerit Drain and the REFLOWS (restoring environmental flows to the Upper SE) project. They were being reviewed to assist her board "in its assessment of the two projects".
International services company GDH is conducting an independent review of the risks and benefits to the environmental values of the West Avenue Watercourse associated with the project.
"This scientific review will consider existing scientific evidence, including the extensive ecological, hydrological and soils data available," Ms Hosking said.
"As part of the process, GHD is speaking with key agencies and scientific experts, and will review environmental risks and benefits of the Bald Hill drain as part of the broader program.
"In parallel to this ... the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute at the University of South Australia is conducting an independent assessment of community perspectives on the proposed constructions.
"This survey is endeavouring to find out the level of understanding and support there is for the Upper SE drainage program, with a focus on the REFLOWS and the Bald Hill drain."
* Extract from a full report in Stock Journal, March 19 issue.
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