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Regional Water Strategy A Step CloserMorwell MP Russell Northe has welcomed the formation of the Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy (GRSWS) consultative committee following his repeated calls for the State Labor Government to act upon its pre-election commitments. By Russell Northe - 21st May 2009 - Back to News Mr Northe said the state government promised a regional strategy in 2004 and pledged to fast track its development in the lead up to the 2006 election following pleas from within its own ranks.
The local Nationals MLA has continued to push for the development of the GRSWS to afford local stakeholders certainty of supply as they plan for the future.
"This week’s announcement is a positive step forward in the protracted wait for our own regional strategy," Mr Northe said today.
"It will pave the way to ensuring that future supply demands can be met so that our towns and industries, be they power, agriculture, tourism or manufacturing can plan for growth."
The Bracks/Brumby Government has a terrible track record when it comes to water and Mr Northe said Gippslanders are eager for a strategy to be in place before ill thought out measures are implemented without consultation.
"The Gippsland community was led to believe the GRSWS would be developed in 2007 but Labor let locals down," he continued.
"Now at least we can see the wheels are in motion and we look forward to the release of a discussion paper in the next couple of months."
Mr Northe said the consultative committee included representatives from local water authorities, industries and councils.
The committee has anticipated the release of a discussion paper in mid-2009 followed by a draft strategy late this year and a final strategy in early 2010.
Mr Northe added he would continue to pursue details of the Eastern Water Recycling Proposal (EWRP), which would see Melbourne’s waste water piped down to the Latrobe Valley in exchange for Gippsland’s fresh water. The EWRP business case is also long overdue and is believed to have been presented to the Brumby Government last November.
"Mr Brumby must lift his veil of secrecy and make public the outcome of the study," he said.
"Locals deserve no less."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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