It's time to reconsider the pipe

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has said that the State Government should exhaust all options before commencing construction of the North South Pipeline after Victorian Councils added their names to the growing list of those who have questioned the project.

Urban and rural councils last week supported a resolution for a review of the State Government's decision to construct the North South pipeline at the Municipal Association of Victoria's (MAV) State Council meeting. Monday's CSIRO report on water availability in the Goulburn Broken system predicts a 14 per cent reduction by 2030 under the median climate change scenario.

VFF President, Simon Ramsay, said that removing water from the stressed Murray Darling Basin had been opposed by farmers from the start and that all options should be exhausted before any pipeline was built.

"While the water needs of Melbourne are of vital importance, all options to provide this water should be thoroughly explored before construction of the pipe begins. It is now clear that the impact of draining 75 billion litres from the Basin for use in Melbourne is concerning more than just Victoria's farming community," Mr Ramsay said.

"A pipeline from Tasmania to Victoria; the capture and use of stormwater; and the construction of new dams have all been put forward as alternative sources of water to meet Melbourne's future needs."

"Water shortages are limiting food production, adding to rises in food prices, and restricting environmental flows placing significant pressure on the Murray River ecosystem. Taking more water out of the Basin will not help to resolve these outstanding concerns."

"All water savings from the infrastructure upgrades provided by the Foodbowl Modernisation project are desperately needed within the Basin."

"Farmers are calling on the government to review all of the options and find a better way to ensure rural Victoria, and the mighty Murray, does not pay the price to keep Melbourne's gardens green," Mr Ramsay concluded.