Media Releases

The Brumby Government’s environmental credentials are in tatters following its decision to loot environmental water from northern Victoria’s stressed river systems for the Yarra River.
Shadow Minister for Country Water Resources and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh said the government’s decision to rob northern Victoria of environmental water was an act of lunacy.
“The government is taking 12 billion litres of water made through savings from the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline project and is using the north-south pipeline to send it to Melbourne,” Mr Walsh said.
“This water was promised to the Murray, Loddon and Campaspe rivers but the government has broken its word and taken it to Melbourne.
“Monday’s news reports let the cat out of the bag and the truth is the north-south pipeline is being used to deliver environmental flows to the Yarra.
“The Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition supports environmental flows for the Yarra River, but we don’t believe they should be allocated at the expense of northern Victoria’s stressed river systems.”
Mr Walsh said John Brumby was treating northern Victorians with contempt.
“Labor is trying to cynically manipulate Victorians by spinning one story in Melbourne and another in regional Victoria,” Mr Walsh said.
“The government told food producers the pipeline was needed to secure Melbourne’s drinking supplies, yet in the city it has been telling voters that the pipeline has reduced water restrictions and boosted environmental flows.
“Boosting flows to the Yarra is no more than a political stunt to justify John Brumby’s decision to spend $750 million on building a giant white elephant.
“If there was any true environmental intent behind the government’s decision to return flows to the Yarra River, Labor would have ensured the water did not come at the expense of other, more stressed river systems.
“There is no environmental gain to be made from robbing heritage-listed rivers north of the divide simply to win votes in Melbourne,” Mr Walsh said.