A petition to stop the partial draining of Beaconsfield Reservoir will be presented in Parliament after the local campaign group handed over the list of 3000 signatures.
Save the Beaconsfield Reservoir Action Group (SBRAG) and members from the Officer and District Community made the formal handover to Opposition Leader Brad Battin last Thursday with MPs Renee Heath and Wayne Farnham also in attendance.
The petition opposes the proposed works by Melbourne Water to partially demolish the old dam and lower the water level to minimise risks from flooding.
SBRAG has argued for many years that the century-old reservoir should be retained as it currently is and the surrounding Beaconsfield Nature Conservation Reserve should be reopened for the public to enjoy, as well as saying the current water level is critical for bushfire efforts.
This is the second petition to Parliament after 1700 signatures were presented to Parliament in 2021.
“We thank Brad Battin, Renee Heath and Wayne Farnham for their advocacy to have this crucial and strategically important water resource and area of extraordinary beauty, retained and developed into a public park for the enjoyment of all Victorians,” a SBRAG statement read.
Local Liberal MPs have maintained criticism of the state government’s actions regarding the reservoir.
The petition will be tabled before Parliament at a later date.
