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Bass Coast Applauds Decision For Water Inquiry

Bass Coast is celebrating the announcement of an inquiry into all aspects of the State Government’s water plan.

By Bass Coast Shire Council - 21st September 2007 - Back to News

Bass Coast Shire Council lobbied all State Parliamentarians to support the motion, which was introduced into the Legislative Council by the National Party. After a four hour debate on 19 September, Parliament agreed to the inquiry.

Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Allan Bawden, said it was a very positive development.

"At last month’s Council meeting, it was resolved that Bass Coast would support the inquiry," said Mr Bawden.

"We wrote to every Parliamentarian and each of the 79 Victorian Councils outlining our concerns and urging them to support the motion.

"The Council saw the proposal for a parliamentary inquiry as one way of enabling a community debate into all aspects of the Government’s water plan," continued Mr Bawden.

"The Mayor organised meetings with the leaders of the Liberal and National parties. The leaders were briefed on Council’s concerns about the water plan in general and the proposed desalination plant in particular.

"Members of the Your Water Your Say action group also attended these meetings and were able to voice their concerns."

Bass Coast Mayor, Cr Neville Goodwin, said support for the inquiry from the members of the Upper House was a great result for all Victorians.

"This inquiry means the Government will have to justify its decision to include desalination as part of Victoria’s water solution," said Cr Goodwin.

"One of our biggest issues with the way the desalination project has been handled is the lack of community consultation and available information.

"There needs to be a full debate and hopefully now we have a forum where this can take place," Cr Goodwin stated.

The inquiry will be conducted by the Environment and Natural Resources Committee of the Parliament. It will look at the broad issues of water savings, including increased conservation and efficiency efforts, collection of stormwater, reuse of treated waste water, use of groundwater, small locally based desalination plants and other water use options. The inquiry will report back to the Parliament no later than December 2008.


Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com



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