NNNN BAD DEVELOPERS NNNN

EXPOSING DEVELOPERS WHO FAIL TO APPRECIATE AND RESPECT COMMUNITY, ENVIRONMENT AND SPIRIT OF THE LAND

Upper Yarra River Catchment Maps March 2008

Drinking Water Supply for 1,200,000+ people.

9000+ hectares of Melbourne's Water Supply heavily sprayed with a range of pesticides. Most spraying occurs within 20km of Sugarloaf Reservoir.

What are the Chemical Loads and why does Melbourne Water only test for two currently used pesticides (2,4-D and Atrazine (since 2006))?

Main pesticides of concern to Melbournians would probably be; Parathion Methyl, Paraquat, Diquat, Simazine, Chlorpyrifos, Carbaryl, Methomyl.

Also a worry to people and health of Yarra River and tributaries would probably be; Mancozeb, Paraquat, Diquat, Maldison, Thiram, Metiram, Pirimicarb, Triclopyr, Methomyl, Ipriodione, Dimethoate, Captan, Endosulfan, Abamectin, Propargite, Azinphos Methyl & Esfenvalerate.

The following quote can be dated back to 1983. 26 years later nothing has changed (except the pesticides being used).

"A recent pilot survey conducted by the EPA on several agricultural catchments on the Upper Yarra and upstream of the offtake for the Winneke Reservoir concluded that "the pesticide levels detected represent a potential problem for the protection of stream biota in streams draining areas of intense agriculture. Interim Threshold Estimates for the protection of acquatic ecosystems were exceeded up to a factor of 80. Generally the levels of pesticides detected were below the recommended limits for the protection of potable water supplies. However levels of 2,4,5-T detected in one creek approached potable water limits." Administration Management Strategies for Non-Point Sources of Water Pollution in Victoria. EPA June 1983 Publication 170.

Breakdown of different pesticides according to Pesticide Action Network

Pesticide Name	Type		PAN BAD ACTOR	ACUTE TOXICITY	CARCINOGEN	CHOLINESTERASE INHIBITOR	GROUND WATER CONTAMINANT	DEVELOPMENTAL REPRODUCTIVE TOXIN	ENDOCRINE DISRUPTOR
Abamectin	Botanical	I	YES	YES	NOT LIKELY	NO	?	?	SUSPECTED
Azinphos Methyl	Organophosphorus	I	YES	YES	NOT LIKELY	YES	POTENTIAL	?	?
Captan	Thiophthalimide	F	YES	YES	YES	NO	?	?	?
Carbaryl	Methyl Carbamate	I	YES	MOD	YES	YES	POTENTIAL	?	SUSPECTED
Chlorpyrifos	Organophosphorus	I	YES	MOD	NOT LIKELY	YES	?	?	SUSPECTED
Dimethoate	Organophosphorus	I	YES	YES	POSSIBLE	YES	POTENTIAL	YES	?
Diquat	Bipyridylium	H	NOT LISTED	MODERATE	NOT LIKELY	NO	POTENTIAL	?	?
Endosulfan	Organochlorine	I	YES	YES	NOT LIKELY	NO	?	?	SUSPECTED
Esfenvalerate	Pyrethroid	I	NOT LISTED	MODERATE	NOT LIKELY	NO	?	?	SUSPECTED
Maldison	Organophosphorus	I	YES	MODERATE	POSSIBLE	YES	POTENTIAL	?	SUSPECTED
Mancozeb	Dithiocarbamate Inorganic Zinc	F	YES	NOT ACUTELY	CARCINOGEN	NO	?	YES	SUSPECTED
Methomyl	Methyl Carbamate	I	YES	YES	NOT LIKELY	YES	POTENTIAL	?	SUSPECTED
Metiram	Dithiocarbamate Inorganic Zinc	F	YES	NOT ACUTELY	YES	NO	POTENTIAL	YES	SUSPECTED
Paraquat	Bipyridylium	H	YES	YES	NOT LIKELY	NO	POTENTIAL	?	?
Parathion Methyl	Organophosphorus	I	YES	YES	UNCLASSIFIABLE	YES	POTENTIAL	?	SUSPECTED
Pirimicarb	N-Methyl Carbamate	I	YES	MODERATE	YES	YES	?	?	?
Propargite	Unclassified	I	YES	YES	YES	NO	?	YES	?
Simazine	Triazine	H	YES	SLIGHT	POSSIBLE	NO	YES	YES	SUSPECTED
Thiram	Dithiocarbamate	F	YES	MODERATE	UNCLASSIFIABLE	NO	?	YES	SUSPECTED
Triclopyr	Chloropyridinyl	H	Not Listed	SLIGHT	UNCLASSIFIABLE	NO	?	?	?

What about the hundreds of other pesticides used upstream of the offtake to Sugarloaf Reservoir?

Sugarloaf Reservoir provides drinking water to almost 700,000 people in the Melbourne suburbs of; Alphington, Arthurs Creek, Balwyn, Balwyn East, Balwyn North, Banyule, Box Hill North, Briar Hill, Brunswick, Brunswick East, Brunswick West, Bulleen, Bundoora, Burwood, Camberwell, Canterbury, Coburg, Croxton, Deepdene, Diamond Creek, Doncaster, Doreen, Eaglemont, Eltham, Epping, Fairfield, Glen Iris, Greensborough, Greythorn, Hawthorn, Hawthorn East, Heidelberg, Heidelberg Heights, Heidelberg West, Hurstbridge, Ivanhoe, Kangaroo Ground, Keon Park, Kew, Kingsbury, Lalor, Lower Plenty, Maclead, Malvern, Mernda, Mill Park, Mont Albert, Montmorency, Northcote, Northland Centre, Nutfield, Pascoe Vale, Plenty, Preston, Research, Reservoir, Rosanna, Smiths Gully, South Morang, Templestowe Lower, Thomastown, Thornbury, View Bank, Watsonia, Wattle Glen, Whittlesea, Yallambie, Yarrambat. (Orange shading represents communities sourcing almost exclusively from Sugarloaf).

Sugarloaf Reservoir also supplies almost 500,000 customers of City West Water in the following regions; Werribee, Little River, Altona, Werribee South, Footscray, Deer Park, East Keilor, Strathmore, Moonee Ponds, Parkville.

Sugarloaf Reservoir sometimes supplies South East Water Customers, particularly in drier times. Suburbs include; Albert Park, Balaclava, Gardenvale, Garden City, Fishermens Bend, Elwood, Elsternwick, Melbourne, Middle Park, Prahan, Ripponlea, South Melbourne, South Yarra, Southbank, St/Kilda/West, St.Kilda/East, Windsor.

Land Use (excluding grazing, urban and forestry)above Offtake to Sugarloaf	ha	Number of Agrochemicals Registered in Victoria by Crop Type
Vineyards	3904.3	~110+
Orchards (Apples, Citrus etc)	1549.2	~65-110
Cut Flowers/Nurseries etc	1225.9	?
Potatoes	989.22	~70+
Berries (Strawberries, Rasberries, etc)	936.52	25+
Vegetables	490.37	15-75
Tree Plantations	117.47	~35
Olives	32.94	~10
Total	9244.92

Other Yarra Catchment Maps Here

Streams in Yarra River Catchment upstream of Sugarloaf Reservoir

Native forests in the Yarra River Catchment upstream of Sugarloaf Reservoir. The major land use in the Upper Yarra are forests.

Map of the Yarra River Catchment upstream of Sugarloaf Reservoir. The dark blue areas are 'closed catchments', where activities are very limited.

Map of the Yarra River Catchment upstream of Sugarloaf Reservoir. The Yarra River catchment is the most intensively farmed water supply catchment in Victoria. Dark Green = Vineyards. Light Green = Orchards. Red = Berry farms. Pink = Cut Flowers/Nurseries. Orange = Potatoes. Tan = Vegetables. Purple = Tree Plantations.

1. = Olinda Creek. 2. = Stringybark Creek. 3 = Wandin Yallock Creek (part of Woori Yallock Creek). 4=Woori Yallock Creek. 5 = Hoddles Creek. 6 = remaining Yarra catchment. Dark Green = Vineyards. Light Green = Orchards. Red = Berry farms. Pink = Cut Flowers/Nurseries. Orange = Potatoes. Tan = Vegetables. Purple = Tree Plantations.

Urban landuse upstream of Melbourne's drinking water.

Urban land use within Yarra River sub-catchments in water supply. 1. = Olinda Creek. 2. = Stringybark Creek. 3 = Wandin Yallock Creek (part of Woori Yallock Creek). 4=Woori Yallock Creek. 5 = Hoddles Creek. 6 = remaining Yarra catchment.

Urban and Agricultural land use above Sugarloaf Reservoir (excluding dryland grazing). Dark Green = Vineyards. Light Green = Orchards. Red = Berry farms. Pink = Cut Flowers/Nurseries. Orange = Potatoes. Tan = Vegetables. Purple = Tree Plantations. Brown = Mining. Orange = Sewage Treatment Facilities

Dark Green = Vineyards. Light Green = Orchards. Red = Berry farms. Pink = Cut Flowers/Nurseries. Orange = Potatoes. Tan = Vegetables. Purple = Tree Plantations. 1. = Olinda Creek. 2. = Stringybark Creek. 3. = Woori Yallock Creek. 4. = remaining Yarra catchment.

Olinda Creek highlighted showing location of currently constructed Croydon Golf Course.

Olinda Creek highlighted. Black = Urban/Industrial. Grey = light Urban. Brown = Mining. Orange = Lilydale Sewage Treatment Plant. Dark Green = Vineyards. Light Green = Orchards. Red = Berry farms. Pink = Cut Flowers/Nurseries. Orange = Potatoes. Tan = Vegetables. Purple = Tree Plantations.

Location of Stringybark Creek

Agricultural Land Use within Stringybark Creek Catchment, excluding dry land farming.

Woori Yallock catchment highlighted.

Woori Yallock catchment agricultural land use. Dark Green = Vineyards. Light Green = Orchards. Red = Berry farms. Pink = Cut Flowers/Nurseries. Orange = Potatoes. Tan = Vegetables. Purple = Tree Plantations.

Wandin Yallock Creek highlighted

Wandin Yallock catchment agricultural land use. Dark Green = Vineyards. Light Green = Orchards. Red = Berry farms. Pink = Cut Flowers/Nurseries. Orange = Potatoes. Tan = Vegetables.

Wandin Yallock Water Supply Protection Area & agricultural land use. Dark Green = Vineyards. Light Green = Orchards. Red = Berry farms. Pink = Cut Flowers/Nurseries. Orange = Potatoes. Tan = Vegetables.

Other Yarra Catchment Maps Here