A Federal Coalition pledge to commit $45 million for water infrastructure upgrades has left Werribee South and Bacchus Marsh market gardeners feeling high and dry.
Agriculture and Water Minister Barnaby Joyce last week visited Victoria to pledge the upgrade of the south-west Loddon pipeline, funding for the Macalister irrigation district in east Gippsland and funding to conduct 10 water feasibility studies.
But there was no funding promised for the much-needed upgrade of the Bacchus Marsh and Werribee South irrigation districts.
This year’s state budget included $5 million for the upgrade of the Bacchus Marsh irrigation system and $11.4 million for Werribee South.
Both funding allocations accounted for a third of the overall costs of the two projects, with it being hoped the federal government would match that of Southern Rural Water and the state government.
When questioned on why these regions were not allocated federal funding, a spokesman for Mr Joyce said there were many worthy projects around the country, but there was only limited funding available at this time.
The spokesman said that the two projects which were funded were considered high priority.
Labor Lalor MP Joanne Ryan said a Labor government, if elected, would work alongside the state government to determine how they could best improve water security and water quality for Werribee South and Bacchus Marsh.
State Water Minister Lisa Neville was unimpressed by the lack of federal funding for the region.
“The Bacchus Marsh and Werribee irrigation districts have been hit hard with the impact of climate change and poor inflows over the last 12 months,” she said.
“We welcome the federal government’s pledge for the South West Loddon Pipeline, but other critical water projects appear to have been neglected.
“These modernisation projects are critical to improve water security for irrigators, generate significant water savings and improve environmental health through an environmental entitlement generated by the works.”
