Thursday, 2 May 2024

East Grampians water supply

Jacinta ERMACORA (Western Victoria) (09:55): Last week I attended a sod turning at Lake Fyans for the East Grampians rural water supply project. This significant project will liberate producers from the inconsistencies of rainfall, especially in the face of climate change. The new pipeline scheme will increase productivity and diversity across the agricultural sectors, enhance community wellbeing, safety and resilience and reduce pressures on already stressed catchments in the face of climate change. These projects are absolutely fantastic. Farmers and businesses will have the confidence to invest in the area, knowing that they have a secure water supply. This is not only good for the economy but also good for the mental health of the whole community – we know the impact of drought on farmers’ mental health. I congratulate board chairs Caroline Welsh from Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water and Peter Hilbig from Wimmera Catchment Management Authority and their teams and also managing director Mark Williams and all the staff of Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water for their vision, their technical expertise and their consultation and advocacy to get the funding for this project up – it is funded by federal and state and the local community. I congratulate everybody involved.