Mond

Wednesday, 15 November 2006

VAILE SUPPORTS MOKOAN IRRIGATORS

Deputy Prime Minister and National Party Leader, Mark Vaile, today endorsed Mokoan irrigators’ calls for an independent assessment of the current security of supply of water as a critical step to resolving the dispute over the proposed decommissioning of Lake Mokoan.

Mr Vaile met irrigators Wayne Spinks, Ray Henderson and Peter Ryan and local Nationals MP, Bill Sykes at Shepparton.

Mr Vaile said, “I fully support the position of my Nationals colleague, Mr Peter McGauran, Minister for Agriculture, that any Federal Government support for the decommissioning project is conditional on the Victorian Government honouring its commitment to maintain the current security of supply of water to irrigators.

“To this end, given that there is a dispute about what is the current level of security we require an independent assessment of the current level of security of water.

“There are also concerns about the cost of the Victorian Government proposal and the inability to meet current water security.

“I support investigation of alternative options such as partitioning of the Lake into a water storage and wetland, as has been done recently at Barren Box Swamp in New South Wales.

“It is also critical that the conditions of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act are met particularly in relation to the Latham’s Snipe and Murray Cod.”

Dr Sykes and the irrigators were very pleased with Mr Vaile’s further confirmation of the Federal Government’s commitment to justice for all in the implementation of water savings projects.

Dr Sykes and Mr Henderson said, “Mr Vaile’s endorsement of the commitment given earlier by Mr McGauran is very reassuring to irrigators facing the worst drought in living memory.”

Mr McGauran’s commitment follows similar commitments made two years ago by Mr John Anderson, then Deputy Prime Minister and Mr Warren Truss, then Minister for Agriculture.

Mr Henderson said, “This Federal Government support is a great boost to irrigator’s morale.

“Former Deputy PM Anderson, Minister Truss, Minister McGauran and Deputy Prime Minister Vaile are great allies to have with us.

“They are welcome back up to our Local MP Bill Sykes and Victorian Nationals Leader, Peter Ryan who has been with us all the way in our fight for justice for the Broken Valley.”

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