Thursday, 23 August 2007

NATIONALS CALL FOR A PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY INTO MELBOURNE’S WATER SUPPLY

The Nationals introduced a motion in Parliament this week calling on the Brumby Government to suspend the north-south pipeline and desalination option to allow time for the Parliament’s Environment and Natural Resource Committee to conduct an inquiry into options for meeting Melbourne’s future water needs.

The Nationals Upper House Leader Peter Hall moved a notice of motion that would require the all-party committee to undertake an inquiry and report its findings by December 2008.

The motion called for the inquiry to consider and report on ways to supplement Melbourne’s water supply such as water savings being achieved by increased conservation and efficiency, the collection of storm water, the reuse of treated waste water and other options.

Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes said the Government was rushing plans to pump 75 gigalitres of water out of the Goulburn River to Melbourne via the north-south pipeline and build a desalination plant at Wonthaggi.

“Neither of the communities affected by these proposals has been properly consulted about the projects and the government hasn’t even been prepared to commit to conducting an Environmental Effects Statement for one of the biggest infrastructure projects in Victoria’s history,” Dr Sykes said.

“There are many unanswered questions about both projects and the government is trying to solve Melbourne’s water crisis with a quick-fix solution instead of a long-term solution to meet Melbourne’s needs.

The Nationals have raised many notices of motion in Parliament over the past couple of weeks condemning the government for doing nothing during seven years of power to address Melbourne’s water shortages and then implementing a plan to take water form the Goulburn Murray region without consultation.

Dr Sykes continued, “If the government wants to fix Melbourne’s water crisis, it needs to be more focussed on water savings and conservation measures along with a greater commitment to recycling more than 300 gigalitres of partially treated effluent that is pumped to sea each year. This water could be recycled for a range of uses in Melbourne including parks, gardens, sporting reserves and appropriate industries.

“There are better alternatives to solve Melbourne’s water shortages than the quick-fix of pumping water from an already stressed Goulburn-Murray region, who cannot afford to lose any water,” Dr Sykes said.

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