March 20, 2009
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has told Federal Parliament that governments are not moving fast enough to address the environmental challenges facing the Gippsland Lakes and catchment.
Speaking in Federal Parliament this week, Mr Chester highlighted the need for ongoing investment in practical environmental projects, research and monitoring activities to improve and maintain the health of the system.
He highlighted concerns raised by leading CSIRO researchers over the past decade that algal blooms were an indication of the lakes system reaching a ‘tipping point’.
“I’m an optimist by nature and I believe that with the resourcefulness of local people, good science and the goodwill of so many volunteers on the ground in their practical environmental work, we can in fact save the Gippsland Lakes,” Mr Chester told Parliament.
“I am confident that the lakes can recover but it will take a willingness from governments at both levels to work faster and provide more resources to the community.”
Mr Chester also repeated his call for the State Government to allocate at least $10 million over the next three years to maintain and improve the environment of the Gippsland Lakes and catchment.
“The environmental challenges facing the Gippsland Lakes and catchment require ongoing and concerted efforts on the ground along with additional funding for the research required to overcome some of the knowledge gaps we current have,” he said.
“My figure of $10 million is based on the original funding commitment in 2002-06 from the former Bracks Government which saw $3.2 million per year provided for the Gippsland Lakes Task Force activities which are primarily aimed at reducing the nutrient flow into the system.
“I believe that both the task force and the Gippsland Coastal Board have done a good job with the limited resources they have at their disposal. But if we really want to make a difference to the environmental health of the Gippsland Lakes it is going to take a lot more than the funding currently provided from the State and Federal Governments.
“The Gippsland Lakes need our help now, and into the future, and the community expects us to do a lot better.”