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Water Diversion Highlights Importance Of Gippsland: Hall

Open and transparent decisions need to be made about Gippsland’s water supply and how much of it needs to be diverted to Melbourne, according to The Nationals’ Energy and Resource spokesman, Peter Hall.

By Peter Hall - 24th May 2007 - Back to News

The Nationals are very concerned about reports that there is a move to divert water from the Tanjil River back to the Thomson Dam, an issue raised by Mr Hall, the Eastern Region MP, in parliament this week.

"It has been brought to my attention that there appears to have been a clandestine operation to open an old water viaduct, which will redirect water flows from the Tanjil River to the Thomson River, which ultimately feeds the Thomson Dam -- Melbourne's main water storage," Mr Hall said.

"The reason for doing this is quite obviously to supplement Melbourne's water supply.

"The cost of doing it is to risk the capability of electricity production by our main generators and so put Victoria's electricity supplies at risk. Blue Rock Dam also holds bulk entitlements for Gippsland Water and Southern Rural Water, so any diversion of Blue Rock water jeopardises the supply capabilities to Gippsland homes, businesses and farmers. The secrecy of these happenings is most disturbing."

Mr Hall has called on the Minister for Water, Environment and Climate Change to act quickly and verify whether or not water destined for Gippsland use is being directed to Melbourne's supply.

Outside Parliament, Mr Hall said the specific issue had raised a number of broader concerns.

"Firstly in the short term, if there is a concern about the amount of water being used for electricity, people need to make a decision; does Melbourne want stage four water restrictions or does the State want power? It’s a pretty simple answer. If power generation was to reduce because the State Government believes water should go to Melbourne, there will be a severe impact on the whole of the State.

"The second and more important long term issue revolves around why people who live in the country are less important than those who live in the city. Why are Gippsland businesses, families and suppliers being deprived on a resource simply to suit city dwellers? Surely we should all be equal and not have one benefiting at the expense of another. The equity issue needs to be fair and transparent."

Mr Hall said serious consideration needed to be focused on the impact for the whole of the State of diverting water from Gippsland.

"After all, we produce about 85 percent of the State’s electricity, not to mention the contribution to dairy production, timber and vegetables. We all saw the impact of the Longford gas plant issue on the state a few years.

"If Gippsland suffers, the whole state suffers – that needs to be understand by the State Government and the bureaucrats who only see a resource that they think they should have," Mr Hall added.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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