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Victorians Asked To Help Secure Our Water Future

The Minister for Water, John Thwaites, has asked all Victorians to join in a discussion on the State’s water resources, inviting them to attend a series of public meetings on the Government’s Green Paper - Securing Our Water Future.

By Minister for Water - 18th September 2003 - Back to News

Mr Thwaites said the meetings would give Victorians an opportunity to help shape Government policy on a vital issue.

"Conserving our precious water resource to ensure a sustainable future is a challenge for all Victorians," Mr Thwaites said.

"I encourage everyone in the community to have their say on Victoria’s water future so we can meet the challenge."

The Green Paper, which sets out more than 80 proposals for achieving a sustainable water future, was launched last month by the Premier, Steve Bracks, and Mr Thwaites.

The Green Paper is available for public discussion until 31 October. Eighteen public information meetings will be conducted across Victoria before then.

A White Paper on water will be released early next year and will form the basis of legislation to be introduced in the autumn session of Parliament.

"Changes proposed in the Green Paper will affect all Victorians. We all need to act now – people in Melbourne, in our country towns and on our farms all need to get involved and help come up with innovative and creative ways to help conserve our Victoria’s water resources."

Some of the key recommendations in the Green Paper include:

• Stopping further extractions for the first time from seven of the State’s stressed rivers south of the Great Dividing Range;
• Changing laws to enable property buyers to be informed of the water efficiency of houses and buildings;
• Changing pricing structures to reflect demand – for example, different prices for peak and off-peak periods – and encourage water conservation and the use of recycled and greywater;
• Investigating the potential for major uses of recycled water, including new irrigation areas in Werribee, environmental flows down the Thomson River and pumping it north of the Great Dividing Range;
• Making the water market more flexible, including the "unbundling" of water rights so that an irrigator can hold a water entitlement without owning land, as under the present system (plus safeguards to protect against water speculation);
• Permanent water restrictions for regional towns.

Attached is the list of forums.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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