Media Releases

Work to improve security of water supply in the Mitchell River basin will begin immediately under a Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition Government.
Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Rural and Regional Development Peter Ryan today announced $1 million for Stage 1 of the East Gippsland Water Security Project.
“The East Gippsland Water Security Project will secure the region’s water supplies with no increase in extractions from the Mitchell River or its tributaries,” Mr Ryan said.
“We will spend $1 million to undertake detailed planning to determine whether the construction an off-stream storage that fills in winter to ease pumping restrictions in summer or aquifer recharge is the best solution.
“This funding will enable the Coalition, in government, to carry out the thorough modelling, rigorous environmental assessments and community consultation necessary to move the project forward.”
Mr Ryan announced the funding for the East Gippsland Water Security Project at a meeting with food producers in Bairnsdale today.
“When complete, the project will deliver significant economic, environmental and social benefits to East Gippsland and will provide the vegetable industry, which has a farm-gate value of $27 million annually, with a secure and consistent water supply,” Mr Ryan said.
“It will deliver summer environmental flows in the Mitchell River and provide long-term water security for one of Victoria’s fastest-growing regions,” Mr Ryan said.
The Nationals Candidate for Gippsland East Tim Bull said under a Coalition Government, vegetable growers in the Lindenow Valley would be able to increase exports and maintain a consistent share of the domestic market.
“Improved water security will, not only secure those 1000 jobs connected to this vital industry, but it will also create an estimated 100 to 150 on-farm jobs in the region in addition to employment in associated industries such as manufacturing and transport,” Mr Bull said.
“The Coalition’s solution delivers a win for the community, a win for food producers and a win for the environment.”
Deputy Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Country Water Resources Peter Walsh said the announcement demonstrated the Coalition’s commitment to the region.
“The region’s need for water security has been ignored by Craig Ingram and the Labor Government for more than a decade,” Mr Walsh said.
“Food production on the Lindenow Flats has been constrained because they have failed to provide a solution to the lack of water security during dry summer months.
“The Liberals and Nationals in government are committed to working with the community, East Gippsland Water and the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority to this rectify this problem,” Mr Walsh said.