MOKOAN: GOVERNMENT PLANS TO BUY 1000’s OF MEGS OF WATER

The Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, says the Bracks’ Government intends to buy thousands of megalitres of water from the Broken River Irrigation System to meet its commitment to maintain current security of supply to irrigators when Lake Mokoan is decommissioned.

Dr Sykes said, “I was told in no uncertain terms last week by a senior DSE officer that if irrigators want 97% security the Government will give it to them by buying thousands of megalitres of water, particularly from the Mid and Upper Broken River Systems.

“This is totally unacceptable to irrigators, given that the Bracks’ Government has got itself into this position because of its incompetence and failure to listen to local irrigators who have repeatedly questioned the Government’s ability to maintain security of supply by the offsets originally suggested in the White Paper.

Dr Sykes continued, “Let me make it quite clear…If irrigators are looking down the barrel of a massive water buy back…then the State Government is looking down the barrel of one hell of a fight!

“If the Government buys back large volumes of water our future wealth generation potential will be severely restricted and the cost of water to remaining irrigators will increase substantially, as the fixed costs are spread over a smaller number of irrigators.

“This week the Victorian Farmers Federation Annual Conference unanimously passed four resolutions strongly supporting local irrigators and the Benalla District community on this issue.

“Country Victorians realise that the manner in which the decommissioning of Lake Mokoan is managed will set the ‘blue print’ for future water saving initiatives in Victoria, therefore, the process must be sound, transparent and equitable.

“Most people recognise the need for water savings but strongly believe that the pain must be shared equally.

“In this case it is clear that decommissioning Lake Mokoan will benefit the environment of the Snowy River and the entire Murray Darling Basin – so let us make sure the burden is also shared.

Dr Sykes concluded, “Ray Henderson and the Broken System Reliability Reference Committee (BSRRC) have been asked by the Minister to identify a range of offsets to maintain current water security. A key offset that must be thoroughly evaluated is some form of water storage where Lake Mokoan now exists. This will ensure security of supply, enable efficient and rapid response to meet irrigators water needs and be a source of environmental water for the proposed wetlands.

“I urge the local community to work with the BSRRC and give it there full support.

Media contact: Bill Sykes (03) 5762 2100 or 0427 624 989