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Govt under pressure in East GippslandA series of Opposition motions moved at the Lakes Entrance sitting of the Victorian Upper House has put the State Government under pressure to underpin the long-term viability of East Gippsland’s fishing and timber industries.
By Kevin Balshaw - 17th October 2008 - Back to News A series of Opposition motions has put the State Government under pressure to underpin the long-term viability of East Gippsland’s fishing and timber industries.
Gippsland Coalition MPs, Peter Hall, Philip Davis and Ed O’Donohue, say it is clear from this week’s Upper House sitting at Lakes Entrance the Government has no immediate plans for a new wholesale fish market or a new timber industry strategy.
This had cast a pall over both key sectors of the East Gippsland economy, the MPs said.
The outlook for the fishing industry at Lakes Entrance has worsened with the disclosure in a Government report that no commercial arrangement is yet in place for relocation of the Melbourne fresh produce markets from Footscray to Epping and the project would not meet its 2011 deadline.
The Government has indicated preference for the Melbourne Wholesale Fish Market, scheduled to close at the end of March next year, to become part of the Epping markets complex.
In question time Thursday at Lakes Entrance, Mr Davis asked if the Government was serious about shifting the fish market to Epping and whether in the meantime it would work with the City of Melbourne, market management, fish traders and the fishing industry to maintain a central fish market beyond next March.
Treasurer John Lenders said he would not speculate on commercial negotiations with the private joint venture involved in the markets project.
During debate Wednesday the House carried a motion put by Mr Hall that the Government work with the fishing industry toward establishing a new wholesale fish market following closure of the existing market at Footscray.
Mr Hall said the industry at Lakes Entrance depended on a competitive central market in Victoria for the sale of three-quarters of the port’s catch.
The Government also came under fire for failing to deliver a new timber industry strategy, which it has been talking up the past six months as the answer to the East Gippsland timber industry’s need for a secure long-term resource supply.
The Parliament carried Mr O’Donohue’s motion calling for a range of measures to ensure a viable, sustainable future for the industry.
But Mr O’Donohue said it was disappointing Treasurer Lenders had failed to set a date for delivery of the timber strategy and explain what the Government planned to do immediately to give the industry greater certainty.
A third successful motion, put by Mr Davis, noted the challenges facing East Gippsland’s economic and social development and environmental sustainability.
Mr Davis said the recent designation of two national landscapes based on East Gippsland – the Australian Coastal Wilderness and Australian Alps – highlighted the potential opportunities for the region as a centre of nature-based tourism.
But he emphasised Government investment and a fully collaborative program, from government to local community level, would be critical for the region to capitalise on declaration of the national landscapes.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: kevin.balshaw@parliament.vic.gov.au
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