• Hume Star
• Wallan, Kilmore, Broadford Star
• Whittlesea, Mernda, Doreen Star

By Michael Esposito

16th February 2010 11:05:37 AM

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WHILE the State Government boasted about turning on the north-south pipeline on Wednesday, northern Victorians lamented billions of litres of water that will be taken from the Goulburn River.

Mike Dalmau from lobby group Plug the Pipe said the Government’s pipeline project was “environmental vandalism”.

“Broadford and Kilmore are now within the catchment and hooked up to the Goulburn River so by putting Melbourne onto the river it puts another competition onto the Goulburn River for water, therefore it will impact on Broadford and put them back on water restrictions,” Mr Dalmau said.

“Significant businesses in Seymour who irrigate off the river, they are currently only on 55 per cent of their water rights, yet they are still having to pay for 100 per cent of it.”

On Wednesday, Premier John Brumby celebrated the pipeline project, saying it would boost Melbourne’s water supplies with an injection of 75 billion litres of water.

“Our major water projects, including this pipeline and the desalination plant, are the roadmap back from severe water restrictions,” Mr Brumby said. “The pipeline is an integral part of the biggest investment in irrigation upgrades in 100 years, with water savings in northern Victoria’s irrigation region to be shared with Melbourne to secure its water supplies.”

But Mr Dalmau believes it’s all political spin.

“They’re saving Melbourne from drought and water restrictions but it’s a load of rubbish, because there are other more cost effective methods that could have been used.

“They are again rubbing the noses of country Victorians in it and showing that they don’t care about country Victorians, all they care about is votes in their electorates and they don’t care what they do to country Victoria.

“They should be reserving 75 per cent of their water rights, not 55 per cent and that extra 20 per cent they can grow more crops which would therefore generate more employment and jobs within our communities. They’re trying to get Melbourne off water restrictions but it could have an impact on putting more country communities back on water restrictions.”

Mitchell Shire Council has been vocal in its opposition of the north-south pipeline, saying publicly that the State Government misled the council on its plans for the project.

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