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Danny O'Brien welcomes Latrobe River water allocation but slams state government for two-year decision delay

The state government's long-delayed decision to allocate 16,000ML from Blue Rock Lake is welcomed, but Danny O'Brien urges immediate clarity on distribution to support Gippsland farmers and regional jobs.

By news@gippsland - 24th April 2025 - Back to News

The state government's decision to allocate additional water to irrigators, the environment and traditional owners on the Latrobe River is better late than never, according to The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O'Brien.

Danny O'Brien says farmers need clarity on water allocation, urging the government to outline a fair, transparent distribution process

Water allocation delayed

Mr O'Brien said he has been campaigning for years to have the unused water allocated to boost irrigation and food production in central Gippsland. The state government has recently agreed that 16,000ML of water will be carved up equally between the three user groups. "This is a decision that is long overdue and it beggars belief that it's taken the government nearly two and half years to make a decision that could have been made on the spot."

"It was 2022 when the government's Central and Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy agreed to allocate 16,000ML of unused water in Blue Rock Lake, but instead of simply making a decision on how much water would be allocated between the three recipients the government has wasted two and a half years dithering."

"This water can deliver both important environmental and economic benefits for the Latrobe River region and I know there are many farmers eagerly anticipating the opportunity to access additional water. This water will help grow our local agricultural economy and deliver long-term sustainable jobs in our region," Mr O'Brien said.

Allocate water fairly

Mr O'Brien said the state government should also have announced a process as to how it will allocate this water so that farmers can begin to plan. "While the additional 5,000 or so megalitres of water will be eagerly snapped up by farmers, the government has given no indication of how this process will occur - whether it will be an auction, a tender, or a reallocation across existing licences.

"The government should have spent the last two and a half years working out this process and should now be able to tell farmers how it will happen. With Labor's closure of the timber industry and the winding down of coal fired power in the Latrobe Valley, irrigated agriculture has an important role to play in long-term economic sustainability for our region and I encourage the government to move swiftly to further develop these water resources," he said.

Pictures from Danny O'Brien MP Instagram page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com