JENKINS ACCUSED OF MISLEADING GIPPSLANDERS

The Labor Member for Morwell Brendan Jenkins has been accused of misleading Gippslanders over the proposal to recycle Melbourne's sewage and pump it to the Latrobe Valley.

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Province Peter Hall said the Bracks Government's 'Eastern Water Recycling Project' was all about recycling a large volume of water from Melbourne treatment plants and pumping it to the Latrobe Valley.

"Melbourne Labor wants to pump treated effluent from Melbourne to the Latrobe Valley and take fresh Gippsland water in return," Mr Hall said.

"Mr Jenkins needs to explain why he supports the plan which is all about looking after metropolitan Melbourne and nothing about the needs of Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley."

Mr Hall said he was not opposed to recycling water for industrial use or watering parks, gardens and recreation reserves.

"But I am totally opposed to the principle that Mr Jenkins and his Melbourne Labor mates are pursuing at the moment," Mr Hall said.

"They want the Latrobe Valley to accept Melbourne's treated effluent in return for fresh water from the Thomson River system.

"The Government's Draft Water Strategy proposes a connection between Melbourne's Eastern Water treatment plant at Carrum and the Gippsland Water Factory, to bring Melbourne's effluent to Gippsland.

"It also proposes a connection from Blue Rock and Tarago Reservoirs to Cardinia Reservoir which supplies Melbourne with water. It is obvious that the Government proposes to send treated effluent one way and fresh water the other", Mr Hall said.

"I've always supported the need to upgrade facilities to treat locally produced waste, but I cannot help feeling the only reason the Gippsland Water Factory is being built is to facilitate a dirty water/fresh water exchange in the future.

"Melbourne needs to make arrangements to recycle its own water and use it in Melbourne, not pump it back to the Latrobe Valley."

Mr Jenkins criticised The Nationals for opposing the plan this week when he told ABC Radio Gippsland this week:

"For the National Party to claim that that's waste from Melbourne is irresponsible and it's absolutely false."

Mr Hall refuted Mr Jenkins' allegations and referred to the government's Draft Sustainable Water Strategy: Central Region.

"It is the government's own strategy and it clearly spells out a plan to pump treated effluent from Melbourne for use in the Latrobe Valley," Mr Hall said.

"And the plan explicitly states that 'in the long term, West Gippsland may need to access additional urban water from the Eastern Water Recycling Proposal.'

"Melbourne has to learn to live within its water means. It has to recycle and use its water in the metropolitan area and no additional Gippsland water should be sent to the city to be replaced with recycled effluent, despite Mr Jenkins support for such a proposal."