Media Releases

The Victorian Coalition Government has provided Coastal Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) with updated planning guidelines so appropriate development can continue in Victoria's seaside communities.
Water Minister Peter Walsh said the Coalition Government was taking a realistic approach so development could continue while managing risks from future sea level rises.
“The updated guidelines will help local decision makers manage risks from future sea level rise and allow appropriate and sensible development in coastal towns,” Mr Walsh said.
“The Coalition Government recognises that local information is needed to make decisions on new development and that local authorities are best placed to make these decisions affecting their communities.
“Local councils, together with advice from CMAs, hold the right skills and local knowledge to make decisions regarding development that is appropriate for local conditions.
“The updated guidelines will help business, communities, local government and industry make decisions to manage their own risk and develop communities appropriately.”
The guidelines follow on from Planning Minister Matthew Guy’s commitment earlier this month to deliver common sense and certainty to coastal planning.
Mr Walsh said the Coalition Government’s policy enabled communities to continue to develop along Victoria’s coastline in a sensible manner.
The Coalition Government is in the process of updating Victoria’s planning systems to bring the new policy into effect.
The guidelines do not apply to Melbourne Water which will continue with current practice.

A new Victorian Coalition Government strategy targeting the state’s red meat industry will boost lamb production and aims to improve the bottom line for producers.
Opening LambEx at Bendigo Showgrounds today, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Peter Walsh confirmed the Victorian Coalition Government’s commitment to supporting the continued success and growth of the lamb and wider red meat industries.
“LambEx is a premier event in which to celebrate and recognise those within the lamb industry and share knowledge, planning, innovation and inspiration,” Mr Walsh said.
“The Coalition Government is pleased to be sponsoring LambEx here in Victoria, the home of the lamb export industry. Red meat, including lamb, is one of Victoria’s major agricultural exports and generated $1.6 billion last year.
“Under a new Coalition Government strategy as part of the Growing Food and Fibre initiative, staff from the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) will focus on research projects to improve productivity and meat quality, as well as boost biosecurity mechanisms to safeguard export and domestic markets.”
Mr Walsh said the red meat industry would benefit from DPI work into improving sheep fertility and lamb survival rates, improving lean meat yield from lamb production systems, and developing new farming systems to cater to different regions in Victoria.
“We will also develop on-farm research and demonstration sites across Victoria to apply and test research findings in a commercial environment,” Mr Walsh said.
“By undertaking work to increase the adoption of traceability and improved feedback systems, farmers and processors will be able to improve product quality and integrity to better meet consumer requirements.
“We are also investing $3.45 million to establish DPI’s Hamilton research facility as a Southern Red Meat Innovation centre, which will build on recent capital investment supporting lamb research at the site.
“Victoria has the opportunity to produce more red meat for growing overseas markets and these Coalition initiatives will be a vital step towards that goal.”
LambEx continues today and tomorrow at the Prince of Wales Showgrounds in Holmes Road, Bendigo. For further information and program details visit www.lambex.com.au

The Victorian Government has recently opened a new grant round for early childhood infrastructure, local Member, Peter Walsh, said today.
This grant round is valued at $36 million and brings the total funding allocation for the Children’s Capital Program under this Government to over $80 million from both State and National Partnership funding streams.
The available grant types include:
• Integrated Children’s Centre grant of up to $1.5 million (capped at 40% of the development cost) for new integrated children centres,
• New Early Learning Facility grant of up to $600,000 (capped at 75% of the development cost) for new stand-alone children’s centres; and
• Learning Facility Upgrade grant of up to $300,000 to existing services.
In promoting the grant round, Mr Walsh called on all pre-school providers and Committees of Management to investigate the funding streams.
Information on the grant round can be found at:
www.education.vic.gov.au/ecsmanagement/capitalprogram/default.htm

Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, today announced that the Victorian Government is implementing a new $24.8 million program to encourage manufacturers throughout the Swan Hill electorate to invest in new technology that will increase productivity and competitiveness.
Mr Walsh said the Investing in Manufacturing Technology (IMT) program would provide grants of up $250,000 to support Victorian manufacturers in adopting new technologies.
“The IMT program is a key part of the Victorian Government’s $58 million manufacturing industry assistance package, announced in the 2012-13 Budget,” he said.
“There are challenges in manufacturing including the high Australian dollar and the anticipated higher energy costs under the proposed carbon tax, but the Victorian Government is committed to supporting our State’s manufacturers.
“The IMT program is structured to ensure financial assistance to manufacturers is based on an increase in productivity, diversification of products or new lines or investment to enable companies to compete in new international markets.
“There is great resilience in the Victorian manufacturing sector and I was pleased to see the manufacturing jobs rose for the second consecutive quarter, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics labour force data released on June 14.
“There are great examples in our region of successful manufacturing businesses and I have seen first-hand how these businesses continually meet and take on challenges.
“I encourage all manufacturing businesses, small and large to apply for these grants,” he said.
Applications for IMT Round One are open from 18 June to 20 July, with total funding of up to $3 million available in this round. Grants will be allocated on a competitive basis and will require a minimum co-contribution from the business of $3 for every $1 granted.
An outline of the program, key dates, application process, eligibility criteria, assessment process and reporting requirements can be found at www.business.vic.gov.au/imt or call Business Victoria on 13 22 15.

The Victorian Coalition Government is seeking assurance that the valuable southwest Victorian southern bluefin tuna angling sector will be guaranteed long term access to the fishery.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Peter Walsh today said southern bluefin tuna was an important fishery for recreational anglers in Victoria who were entitled to an ongoing share along with the commercial sector.
“The southern bluefin tuna fishery is a significant resource for recreational fishers, charter operators and tourism operators in southwest Victoria while also supporting an important commercial fishery based in Port Lincoln in South Australia,” Mr Walsh said.
“We are seeking assurances from the Commonwealth Government that fair consideration will be given to both the recreational and commercial sectors in future decision making about access to the southern bluefin tuna resource.”
Mr Walsh said the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) was in discussions with the Commonwealth over future resource sharing arrangements for southern bluefin tuna which the Victorian Coalition Government expected to result in guaranteed long term access for the recreational sector.
Tourism charter boat operators have invested significantly in building the recreational angling experience and that financial commitment needs to be respected and given security.
In order to quantify the importance of recreational southern bluefin tuna fishing, the Coalition Government, in conjunction with Glenelg Shire, has recently commissioned Deloitte Access Economics to undertake a study into the contribution it made to Portland and the broader southwest Victorian economy.
“We know recreational southern bluefin tuna fishing provides significant economic benefits to the region and this study will quantify just how important that contribution is,” Mr Walsh said.
The study follows a survey released by DPI today that estimated last year’s recreational harvest of southern bluefin tuna by anglers fishing from trailer boats off the southwest Victorian coast to be around 19,700 fish, equivalent to 240 tonnes, with a further 6,900 fish caught and released. 
Fisheries Victoria Executive Director Anthony Hurst said the 240 tonne harvest was equivalent to 6 per cent of Australia’s commercial catch allocation in 2011.
Some additional survey work shows that the total recreational catch of southern bluefin tuna is likely to be considerably higher, with at least another 594 tuna caught by anglers operating from boats that return to moorings in Portland Harbour.
The survey was funded by recreational fishing licence fees and is the first study of its kind to quantify the recreational southern bluefin tuna catch. It involved interviewing more than 1,900 anglers at Apollo Bay, Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Portland boat ramps.
It found recreational anglers undertook more than 6,200 trailer boat trips in Victorian waters in pursuit of southern bluefin tuna, with 83 per cent of those from Portland.
Mr Hurst said the study provided vital information for state and federal fisheries agencies involved in the management of southern bluefin tuna stocks throughout Australia and internationally.
For the full report visit www.dpi.vic.gov.au/fishing

Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, today attended Sea Lake’s Tyrrell College whole school assembly to present special recognition certificates to three local students.
The certificates were the Young Victorian Certificate of Recognition awards which acknowledge the significant role the recipients play in their local community.
Tameeka Staden, Bridget Noonan and Ashlen Wright were all recognised during the presentation ceremony.
“I am constantly impressed by the willingness of our young people to volunteer their time and efforts in a variety of activities across their communities,” Mr Walsh said.
“Tameeka, Bridget and Ashlen were all nominated to receive the awards because of their selfless and willingness to contribute to programs throughout the community and, in particular, to programs involving other young people.”
Tameeka is the current Tyrrell College School Captain and President of the Sea Lake Youth Group. She is also involved in junior tennis coaching, as a mentor in the After School Program, has been a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, was awarded the Paula Sutton Memorial Award for club service to the Sea Lake / Nandaly Netball Club and last year was the recipient of a Melbourne University Kwong Lee Dow Scholarship.
Bridget has provided major leadership in ensuring the continuation of the local MILO cricket program, volunteered as a junior tennis coach, has been a Meals on Wheels volunteer, is a past President of the Sea Lake Youth Group, is a local netball club volunteer and is a member of the group of students working under the Community Leadership Industry Program constructing seating at Green Lake.
Ashlen co-ordinates and manages the Under 16 tennis in Sea Lake, is a Youth Group member, a volunteer with the Woomelang Netball Club and was instrumental in Tyrrell College’s NAB Schools First campaign which resulted in the College winning the National Award for its innovative Agricultural Program.
“These girls are to be commended for their willingness to volunteer their time and efforts and are a fine example of the spirit and capacity of the youth of our region,” Mr Walsh said.

Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, has welcomed today’s announcement of a new partnership between the Victorian Coalition Government through Tourism Victoria and Federation Square to show off Victoria’s Murray region, in a series of short films to be screened over the next year.
The initiative will see Victoria’s regions broadcast in the heart of Melbourne to domestic and international visitors four times a day from July. The videos will focus on a different Tourism Victoria campaign region each month, and will be shown across both Federation Square’s Big Screen and The Atrium.
Federation Square received more than two million visitors last year alone, making it the most visited attraction in Melbourne and presenting a fantastic opportunity to connect with interstate and international visitors and increase awareness of regional Victorian destinations.
The video featuring the Murray will be shown at Federation Square during February 2013 whilst the Grampians region will be shown this August and the Goldfields in April 2013.
The initiative supports the Coalition Government’s commitment to regional tourism, which includes ensuring the dispersal of visitors across the regions and growing the state’s $15.3 billion tourism industry.
“Our entire region is packed full of attractions for tourists from the City and overseas to come and enjoy,” Mr Walsh said.
“The iconic Murray River with its natural environmental attractions as well as its history has long drawn visitors along its upper reaches, but its stretch between Koondrook, through Swan Hill and up to Boundary Bend is equally full of natural highlights and historical significance.
“Further south in our electorate we have fine wine growing, river systems, historic gold regions and vibrant local communities who offer visitors a true country welcome which is the envy of Melbournians and international travellers alike.
“These series of short films will be a great promotion for our region and I congratulate all involved on the initiative,” Mr Walsh said.
The latest International Visitor Survey for the year to March 2012 shows international visitor expenditure grew by 19.9 per cent to $355 million in regional Victoria. Domestic visitor expenditure in regional Victoria increased 2.5 per cent to $4.5 billion in the year to March 2012.

With school holidays just around the corner, going fishing with the kids has just become easier with the creation of new online fishing information including the best local fishing spots, safe access ramps and locations of prominent fish species.
Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, said the online maps captured most of the popular fishing spots in northern Victoria including along the Murray, Loddon and Avoca Rivers.
“These maps are funded from recreational fishing licences and provide simple and easy-to-follow information,” Mr Walsh said.
“We are lucky to have access to so many great rivers and fishing spots for all the family to enjoy – especially on the school holidays,” he said.
The online project is another example of how Victorian fishing licence fees are being used to improve angling opportunities.
“If you love fishing and want to spend some recreational time with family or friends throwing in a line or two then this website is worth visiting,” Mr Walsh said.
The new maps are supported by roadside signage that identifies many angler access points and are also available FREE from any Tourist Information Centre or can be printed out at home before heading off on your fishing trip.
In addition, the new maps complement the Guide to Inland Angling Waters of Victoria and the Inland Waters Classification Guide which are already on the DPI website.
Mr Walsh said a new fish length ruler has also been developed and is available to fishers to stick on their boat, tackle-box of Esky.
“The traditional design of the rulers has been refreshed with the inclusion of full colour images and size limit information for popular fish,” he said.
These stickers are available from Mr Walsh’s Electorate office, any DPI office or by emailing fisheries.products@dpi.vic.gov.au or phoning 136 186.
The fishing maps can be found at www.dpi.vic.gov.au/northernfishingmaps

Water Minister Peter Walsh has called on Victorian Labor Party leader Daniel Andrews to explain whether he supports the current Murray-Darling Basin Plan, which has been endorsed by the Mildura Labor branch.
Mr Walsh said Mildura Labor Party branch president Ali Cupper had publicly supported the plan as it stands, which would see 2,750 gigalitres of water taken from irrigated food production.
“The Basin Plan in its current form is a death warrant for northern Victorian communities and will cost jobs,” Mr Walsh said.
“Ms Cupper has said she doesn’t want to see the Sunraysia region ‘become a dustbowl’. Well supporting a plan that will take water from irrigators will do just that.
“Mr Andrews must clarify whether he supports the decision of Labor’s Mildura branch or not.”
Even Federal Labor Water Minister Tony Burke has admitted “we are not yet at a point where I believe we’ve got documents in front of us that I’d be happy to sign off on” (28 May 2012).
Mr Walsh said modelling from both the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) and Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) showed the current Basin Plan would have devastating effects on rural communities.
The MDBA in its own socio-economic report says “the Basin Plan will affect irrigated agricultural production, with flow-on impacts for total agricultural production, gross regional product and employment.
“DSE modelling shows northern Victoria's grape production alone would fall by 11 per cent or $38 million under the proposed Basin Plan,” Mr Walsh said.
“This will cut jobs in rural towns and have a huge impact on northern Victorian farmers who rely on irrigated agriculture to support their families and communities.
“There will be flow-on effects to the rest of Victoria and the fact that Labor supports such an outcome shows it cares more about finding an easy solution than fighting for the future of regional Victoria.”
Mr Walsh said the Victorian Coalition Government could not support the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in its current form and would continue to push for a better outcome for northern Victorian irrigators and communities.

Claims the Victorian Coalition Government has profited by collecting higher dividends due to money collected for the desalination plant are false.
The desalination plant will cost every Melbourne household $400 a year every year for the next 27 years before one drop of water is purchased.
That is the legacy that Tim Holding, John Lenders and the Labor Party left Victorians.
As the architect of this bungled and unnecessary project, Labor is trying desperately to shift the blame by making completely false and misleading claims.
These are the facts:
Fact: The dividend payable for 2011-12 will not be determined until later in the year when Melbourne Water’s full operating results are known.
Fact: The dividends received in the current financial year relate to the 2010-11 operating result, prior to the collection of money for the desalination plant.
The increase from $26 million in 2010-11 to an anticipated $118 million in 2011-12 occurred because dividends in the 2010-11 year were deferred until Melbourne Water’s full operating results were known.
This practice is not uncommon and has occurred previously – including under the Labor Party – as it enables the government to make a more accurate judgement based on full year results.
Fact: Our commitment is that any over-recovery, plus interest, will be handed back to customers in the form of a freeze on prices. It is therefore anticipated that there will be no impact on overall dividends.
The Coalition Government has taken decisive action to return as quickly as possible the money collected from Melbourne Water customers to pay for the desalination plant.