Mond

Monday, 30 October 2006

MOKOAN MADNESS

Over fifteen hundred angry people took to the streets of Benalla last Saturday morning to protest against the Bracks Government’s decision to decommission Lake Mokoan, Victoria’s sixth largest water storage, in the midst of the worst drought in living memory.

Local Nationals MP, Bill Sykes, joined local irrigators in addressing the crowd which included many people from the Goulburn Valley who came to show their support for the people of Benalla and the Broken Valley.

Dr Sykes said, “Community concerns about the decommissioning of Lake Mokoan have escalated dramatically as the worst drought in living memory takes hold.

“Local irrigators are incensed with last week’s announcement that Government promises (made in writing six years ago) of maintaining the current security of supply of water at a reasonable cost are “no longer relevant”.

“Equally, Benalla residents cannot believe that the Government bluntly states that they have no legal or moral responsibility to provide flood protection to Benalla.

“Why then is $2.5 million currently being spent on other local flood mitigation works?”

Dr Sykes continued, “Local people also continue to question the claimed water savings and remain angry about deliberate concealing of its true value in terms of volume of water provided by Mokoan in its current form.

“Currently Mokoan provides around 20,000 Ml for Broken System irrigators and 50,000-80,000 Ml for Goulburn/Murray irrigators and the environment.

“DSE and the Government only credit Mokoan with delivering 20,000 Ml per year.”

Dr Sykes concluded, “Irrigators have offered a ‘win win’ situation based on the highly successful Barren Box Project which created a small lake and a large wetland – total area 3,000 hectares, cost $30 million, water savings 20,000 Ml.

“If only Mr Thwaites would do what I did – jump in a car and go and see with his own two eyes a project driven by the community, supported by the community and delivering cost effective water savings, security of supply and net environmental gains.

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