Vic: Ryan tight lipped on pipe policy

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2008
Vic: Ryan tight lipped on pipe policy

MELBOURNE, April 24 AAP - Victorian Nationals leader Peter Ryan has refused to commit
to decommissioning the controversial north-south pipeline if the coalition wins government
in 2010.

The state government is building a pipe to take water from the Goulburn Murray irrigation
system in northern Victoria to boost Melbourne's supplies.

The coalition and country Victorians oppose the move, arguing the water should stay
in the food bowl region.

Mr Ryan, speaking as acting coalition leader, said there were better ways to secure
Melbourne's supply, but refused to say whether a coalition government would use the pipe
or not.

"I don't concede that it will be built, the people in the north certainly don't concede
that," he said.

Asked if it would be hypocritical for the coalition to maintain the pipe, he said he
would not answer hypothetical questions.

"Let's deal with it as and when it happens," he said.

The government plans to upgrade irrigation infrastructure in the north and pipe some
water to Melbourne to help drought proof the city.

Premier John Brumby says there are at least 400 billion extra litres of water each
year to be drawn from the Goulburn Murray system under the upgrades.

Under stage one of the food bowl modernisation project, the government plans to save
225 billion litres (225 gigalitres) a year.

It will pipe 75 gigalitres to Melbourne, then give the same amount each to the environment
and to farmers.

AAP kl/pmu/ht/cjh/cdh

KEYWORD: WATER VIC

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