November 19, 2015
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester says he is confident the Federal Government will help fund the next stage of the Macalister Irrigation District (MID) 2030 upgrade.
Mr Chester toured the MID on Wednesday with Acting Prime Minister Warren Truss and inspected an irrigation demonstration site at the property of Alan and Alistair Clyne in Tinamba West, with representatives of Southern Rural Water and the Macalister Customer Consultative Committee (MCCC).
“The visit means that now both Warren Truss and Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce have been given an in-person briefing of the Southern Pipeline project, and fully appreciate its importance to the people of Gippsland and the economy,” Mr Chester said.
“The Federal Government is well advanced with its plans to establish a National Water Infrastructure Development Fund, which would allow the State Government to bid for money to match any commitment it is prepared to make on the MID.
“The fund will provide support for project feasibility studies, and is only open to states and territories.”
Mr Chester said he welcomed the Victorian Government’s announcement on Tuesday to allocate $20 million toward the MID2030 Stage 1B project, but was disappointed it was contingent on asset sales.
“On the surface, I welcome the State Government’s undertaking to provide $20 million but I am disappointed it has been linked to the sale of the Port of Melbourne,” Mr Chester said.
“There is no logic in linking the proceeds from a controversial project in Melbourne (which is yet to be approved) with an infrastructure program in Gippsland that has enjoyed bipartisan support from successive governments.”
Mr Chester said he was expecting an announcement on the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund by Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce.
“I have been working closely with Southern Rural Water and kept them fully informed on the Commonwealth Government’s plans to provide funding for water infrastructure projects,’’ Mr Chester said.
“The Southern Pipeline project has already been identified by the Federal Government as a project ready to commence, so I am confident the project will attract the funding it deserves.”
