Media Statement - 19th November 2007
A Rudd Labor Government supports providing $124 million further investment in the Wimmera Mallee pipeline project to ensure the project is completed and water savings delivered as soon as possible.
Federal Labor reiterates the importance for Victoria joining up to a National Plan for Water Security.
Federal Labor will work in partnership with State Governments to end the blame game over water and get things done.
The Wimmera Mallee pipeline is an important water saving project, which will provide greater water security to farmers, businesses and communities across a large part of northern Victoria.
Covering an area of more than two million hectares and 33 towns including Swan Hill, Culgoa, Horsham and Culgoa, the project will replace 17,500 km of open earthen channels with 8,800 km of pipe.
Currently, more than 85 per cent of water in that region is lost through evaporation and leakage.
The pipeline project will provide greater water security to the region, and significant water savings will benefit rivers and provide economic growth opportunities for the region.
As a nation we must take action on water and climate change every year, not just in election years.
If elected on 24 November, we will immediately get to work.