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Government no to Thomson water pleaThe State Labor Government has rejected pleas to stop siphoning environmental flows from the Thomson River for Melbourne. By Kevin Balshaw - 5th February 2010 - Back to News The State Labor Government has rejected pleas to stop siphoning environmental flows from the Thomson River for Melbourne.
The Minister for Water, Tim Holding, has told Eastern Victoria MP, Philip Davis, the diversion of 20 billion litres a year of environmental flow from the Thomson to Melbourne will continue as one of the "necessary steps to secure Melbourne’s water storages".
Mr Davis said the minister had disclosed in a written statement that the Government is relying on an emergency drought reserve in the Thomson Dam as its only safeguard against an environmental crisis affecting the river.
He said the drought reserve was intended as an emergency supply for farmers in the Macalister irrigation district and at times part of the reserve had been used to supplement supplies to irrigators at Werribee and Bacchus Marsh.
The minister had been totally misleading in his assertion that the drought reserve existed to manage short-term environmental risks in the Thomson River, Mr Davis said.
In a written statement, tabled in Parliament in response to Mr Davis’s complaint about the diversion of the river flow, Minister Holding said he had "established a drought reserve to manage any potential long-term risks to the Australian Grayling in the Thomson River, which will be used to deliver critical spawning flows and allow fish passage if natural high flow events do not occur".
The minister added: "Additional protection is provided to manage short-term environmental risks such as poor water quality, with comprehensive monitoring and emergency contingency plans that provide specific triggers for scientifically designed emergency releases to manage risks to significant species."
Mr Holding claimed the Government had been "forced to introduce temporary measures" to supplement Melbourne’s water system.
He asserted a decision had been taken to divert additional environmental flow from the Thomson River rather than the Yarra River because the environmental risks for the Thomson were considered manageable.
The Government doubled the annual rate of diversion from the Thomson to 20 billion litres from last year.
"The minister’s convoluted response itself illustrates his difficulty in justifying this further water heist from Gippsland," Mr Davis said.
"Further, he has failed to acknowledge the risk to the environmental state of the river as a whole or to the Gippsland Lakes.
"It is totally unconvincing, and no one in Gippsland will for a moment hold any faith in the minister’s assurance that ‘environmental flows will be returned to the Thomson River once Melbourne’s water supplies are secure’.
"The common experience is that once the water is taken away, it is never returned."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: kevin.balshaw@parliament.vic.gov.au
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Danny O'Brien has criticised the Allan Labor government for failing to repair faulty firefighting vehicles, warning the issue is placing pressure on CFA brigades and reducing Gippsland's preparedness for bushfire season. - Princes Highway $2M upgrade improves safety and access for pedestrians at Lakes Entrance and Kalimna
Nearly $2 million in joint government funding will upgrade Princes Highway at Lakes Entrance and Kalimna, improving pedestrian safety, access, and traffic flow with new medians, lighting, safety platforms, and path reconstruction. - Tim Bull demands end to brumby shooting as pest and weed control programs face cuts
Gippsland East MP Tim Bull has urged the state government to scrap its costly brumby shooting program, criticising cuts to pest and weed control services vital for farmers and rural communities. - Melina Bath launches e-petition urging Labor to enforce gun laws properly and protect law-abiding firearm owners in Gippsland
Eastern Victoria MP Melina Bath and firearm owner Ryan Weeratunge launch e-petition urging Labor to enforce existing gun laws, avoid rushed changes, and consult law-abiding owners to ensure community safety. - One Gippsland urges stronger climate action and investment to build regional disaster resilience
One Gippsland is calling for urgent government action, investment and policy reform to strengthen disaster resilience, improve planning, and protect coastal communities facing increasing climate-related risks and rising economic costs. - Darren Chester urges federal support for forest scientists making Australia's sustainable native hardwood timber industry
Darren Chester has urged the Albanese government to support credible forest scientists backing Australia's sustainable native hardwood timber industry, criticising activist influence and government bans harming regional jobs and communities. - Melina Bath says after 11 years of Labor, Victoria’s public lands face neglect, higher risks, and degradation
The Silver Review recommends abolishing VEAC, a $1.4 million taxpayer-funded bureaucracy, as Labor’s ineffective agency failed to improve land management or address bushfire and environmental risks. - Latrobe Valley households to cut energy bills with efficient electric heat pump hot water system upgrades
Latrobe Valley households can cut energy bills by $330 annually with efficient heat pump hot water systems, thanks to the Allan Labor government's SEC one stop shop pilot expansion. - Inverloch dairy farmer Mick Hughes highlights community collaboration survive South Gippsland's dry season challenges
Inverloch dairy farmer Mick Hughes credits collaboration with the Inverloch Cluster and local water authorities for navigating South Gippsland's recurring dry conditions and improving farm drought resilience. - David Littleproud says farmers won major victory after Labor abandoned its plan to tax unrealised gains on farms held in self-managed super funds
Nationals Leader David Littleproud says farmers have won a major victory after Labor abandoned its plan to tax unrealised gains on farms held in self-managed super funds. - Darren Chester and Martin Cameron launch petition urging action on long-delayed Traralgon Princes Highway bypass project
Darren Chester and Martin Cameron have launched a community petition urging state and federal governments to prioritise funding and design work for the long-delayed Traralgon Princes Highway bypass to ease congestion. - Tim Bull says firewood shortage worsened by Labor policies amid abundant bush timber
Tim Bull says Labor’s native timber shutdown has caused firewood shortages in East Gippsland, despite record bush fuel loads, urging practical policy changes to reduce fire risk and supply timber responsibly. - Danny O'Brien commends South Gippsland Shire for securing Nyora transport study funding, urges further state investment
Danny O'Brien has praised South Gippsland Shire Council for securing state funding for the Nyora Transport Study, urging the Allan Labor Government to follow through with real investment and road upgrades. - West Gippsland CMA celebrates 25 years of sustainable irrigation, transforming Gippsland farms, saving water and protecting local waterways
West Gippsland CMA's Sustainable Irrigation Program celebrates 25 years, with 1,200 projects saving 47 gigalitres annually, enhancing farm productivity, protecting waterways, and expanding beyond the Macalister Irrigation District. - Life Saving Victoria launches multilingual campaign to protect older adults around water, heat and rip currents
Life Saving Victoria has launched a multilingual campaign to help older adults, especially from multicultural communities, stay safe around water and during extreme heat across Victoria. - West Gippsland CMA’s annual report showcases environmental achievements from mountain headwaters to coastal waters
West Gippsland CMA’s Annual Report highlights major 2024–25 achievements restoring rivers, wetlands and habitats, supporting communities, protecting wildlife, and strengthening catchment health from mountain headwaters to the coast. - Danny O'Brien congratulates Sandy Point and Loch Sport Men's Sheds receiving state funding to enhance community facilities
Sandy Point and Loch Sport Men's Sheds have received over $43,000 in state funding to upgrade facilities, recognising their vital role in supporting men's wellbeing and community connection. - Danny O’Brien urges Gippsland tobacco retailers to obtain licences as new state licensing scheme is enforced from 1 February 2026
Danny O’Brien urges Gippsland tobacco retailers to comply with Victoria’s new licensing scheme, aiming to curb illegal sales, organised crime, and ensure consistent enforcement for safer regional communities. - Parliamentary Inquiry visits South Gippsland to examine oil, gas decommissioning and regional transition opportunities
State Parliament’s Environment and Planning Committee visited South Gippsland to examine oil and gas decommissioning, and local government perspectives, highlighting infrastructure needs and renewable transition opportunities. - Peri-urban councils warn Gippsland housing crisis threatens productivity and federal economic ambitions
Peri Urban Councils Victoria warns soaring prices and falling approvals are hurting productivity, urging federal and state governments to fund infrastructure reforms to unlock peri-urban housing supply and ease affordability pressures. - Martin Cameron criticises stalled Traralgon underpass, urges overpass alternative for delayed pedestrian safety project
Morwell MP Martin Cameron criticises nearly three-year delay on Traralgon underpass, urging government to clarify plans or consider a safer overpass for students and pedestrians crossing the train line. - Victorian Auditor-General warns Gippsland faces energy insecurity amid Labor’s mismanaged renewable energy transition
Victorian Auditor-General warns Gippsland faces energy insecurity as Labor mismanages the renewable energy transition, delaying projects, electricity reliability, raising prices, causing gas shortages, and threatening jobs and households.
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