Morning tea meeting with environmental officers to discuss Collie River and Lake Kepwari water quality

The Shire of Collie council has agreed to hold a public forum with State environmental representatives and Collie-Preston MLA Jodie Hanns after a member of the public raised questions during the July council meeting.

The council passed a motion in February to discuss the water quality of the Collie River’s south branch with the view of inviting Mrs Hanns and Water Minister David Kelly to attend.

This came after the council requested a State Government review of the impact Lake Kepwari was having on the flow of the south branch, including the potential for an environmental flow during the summer months to improve downstream levels.

Collie resident Joe Hetherington spoke to the council on July 19, asking why the meeting had not yet taken place.

“If it has been cancelled, who did it?” Mr Hetherington asked in chambers.

“It’s beautiful out there. But the environment is beautiful, too.”

Collie Shire chief executive officer Stuart Devenish said the meeting had not been cancelled, but that staff had been waiting on a response from the minister’s office.

“Until council had some indication from the minister . . . we really couldn’t plan anything,” Mr Devenish said.

Mr Devenish reiterated the importance of working with the State Government as Lake Kepwari is wholly under control of the State and not the Shire council.

A morning tea will be arranged in the near future, which will be publicised and the community will have the opportunity to ask questions.