The Nationals Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, has been appointed to a water security taskforce to advise the Victorian government on the state’s long-term water security.
Minister for Water Gayle Tierney today released the government’s Water Security Plan, which investigates how to maintain Victoria’s affordable water supply as our population grows.
However, Ms Tierney says modelling estimates in the next decade, Victoria will need an extra 95 billion litres of water annually on top of the Victorian desalination plant running at full capacity.
Mr Walsh, a former Victorian Water Minister, says he will join water industry expert Dr Jane Doolan, fellow former Water Minister Lisa Neville, Melbourne Water managing director Dr Nerina Di Lorenzo and DEECA executive director for water security and resilience Andrew Fennessy on the taskforce.
He was also part of the government’s drought taskforce earlier this year.
“My understanding is the taskforce will review the potential future water supply options and consult with the community before reporting back to the incoming government after the November 2026 election,” Mr Walsh says.
“While our state has permanent water saving rules in place to help Victorians use water more efficiently, and help prevent water restrictions, given the current dry conditions across Victoria – which I saw in particular across southwestern Victoria while working with the drought taskforce – it is appropriate a review of our permanent water savings rules is undertaken to ensure they are fit for purpose and help preserve drinking water supplies,” he says.
“I was happy to accept the Minister’s invitation to join this bipartisan group because our water supply is crucial and goes way beyond party politics – this is about the future of every Victorian.
“And projects on the scale of major water supply, such as recycled water and stormwater harvesting, for example, can take years to plan and deliver – so we need to start looking at them now as our decisions will impact Victorians for generations.”
The Water Security Plan is available at https://www.water.vic.gov.au/our-programs/water-monitoring-and-reporting/water-security-plan
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The Nationals Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, has been appointed to the government’s water security taskforce.
