It was a march, on September 15, 2003 across the Yarrawonga Mulwala Traffic Bridge, to protest against the many recommendations in the Draft Lake Mulwala Management Plan and Living Murray Initiative which included lowering Lake Mulwala to avoid unseasonal flooding downstream at the Barmah-Millewa Choke.
The march was organised by the Lake Mulwala Community Action Group.
“A cold and showery day didn’t dampen the spirits of more than 5000 local people who united to participate in a march across the Lake Mulwala traffic bridge on Monday to protect their livelihood,” local identity and key group member Andrew Spilva commented about the march at the time.
“It was awe inspiring.”
The crowd carried signs and banners bearing a slogan reinforced by the action group and in prior issues of the Yarrawonga Chronicle – ‘Our Lake, Our River, Our Future’.
“A sea of people including school children, RSL members, retirees, ADI (Thales Australia) workers and farmers gathered….many businesses closed for the march to enable employees to participate,” the Yarrawonga Chronicle reported in 2003.
“Police closed the 400 metre long bridge which was soon full with a river of people 10 abreast. People also gathered in boats…chants of ‘our lake, our river, our future’ and ‘save our lake’ were heard and many banners and placards were carried.”
The demonstration was peaceful but delivered a powerful message; the community of Yarrawonga Mulwala was disappointed about the lack of community consultation invited during the development of the Lake Mulwala Land and On-Water Management Plan and Living Murray Initiative and the subsequent direction and recommendations within.
“The vague approach and recommendations in the draft lake plan has sparked fear into the community and with the plan’s implementation imminent they are nervous about possibly losing much of the $150 million plus tourism industry as a result,” the Yarrawonga Chronicle reported.
“This was a day that would go down in history, a day where a close-knit community came together to provide a clear message that they would not accept damaging recommendations that would affect the livelihood of the community.”
A meeting following the march heard detailed debate on the two plans in question and enabled the community to voice their concerns, loudly and clearly, to the Murray Darling Basin Commission and Goulburn Murray Water.
As a result of that day in September, 2003, and a concerted community campaign led by the Lake Mulwala Community Action Group, the plans for the future of Lake Mulwala were completely revised with many of the most controversial or damaging recommendations altered or removed completely.
September 15, 2003, is an important day in the history of Yarrawonga Mulwala and one that should be remembered and revisited for the benefit of future community leaders who may one day be called on to repeat this kind of inspiring community action.
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