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Ingram checks progress on Snowy River flow works

Member for Gippsland East, Craig Ingram, has visited Jindabyne to inspect first hand the works on the Jindabyne Dam in the lead-up to the third anniversary of the Snowy River environmental flow releases.

By Craig Ingram - 13th May 2005 - Back to News

"The enormity of what the Snowy River Alliance and the Snowy community have achieved is clearly evident when you see the scale of the works required to allow environmental flows to be released from the Jindabyne Dam," Mr Ingram said today.

"When the scheme was built, no allowance was made for water to be released downstream of the Jindabyne Dam except for the 1% flow released through a 50cm pipe.

"The contractor has had a number of set backs that will unfortunately delay the completion of the Jindabyne Dam outlet works, which are now expected to be completed by December this year.

"Water for Rivers, the body established to secure the water, has met its first target and has banked 57 gigalitres of environmental water savings and is confident of delivering the water savings on time and budget.

"I welcome the Victorian government’s continued commitment to securing water savings projects for the Snowy River environmental flows.

"A further large project was funded in the recent State Budget, which is expanding the total channel automation system of the Goulburn Murray irrigation district.

"This project will deliver significant water savings for both the Snowy and Murray rivers."

Mr Ingram condemned the Liberal and National parties for their attempted sabotage of the Snowy River’s environmental flows.

"There has been constant opposition and blatant political opportunism by both parties to water savings projects like Lake Mokoan, which will deliver 15gl of water savings to the Snowy River per annum.

"I call on the Snowy community to send a clear message and lobby the two conservative parties to change their policy to reverse the decommissioning of Lake Mokoan to ensure that the environmental flows and water savings projects are not undermined by their constant threats."

Mr Ingram also called on members of the Snowy community to reinvigorate their focus on the main game to recover water for the Snowy to 28% flow.

"Since the historic announcements were made to fund up to 21% flow in 10 years - and eventually 28% - the relevant State and Commonwealth governments have committed under the National Water Initiative to address over-allocated systems as soon as possible, with ‘substantial progress’ by 2010.

"The Snowy River clearly fits this criteria and the National Water Initiative provides a significant opportunity to meet the 28% outcome within 10 years," Mr Ingram concluded.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com



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