Our Great Southern Land

News Release -

PLUG THE PIPE

SUGARLOAF RESERVOIR BLOCKADE - COUNTRY COMMUNITY GROUPS TO BLOCKADE MELBOURNE’S WATER

Victorian Country groups opposed to state government plans to pipe water from the Goulburn River System to Melbourne are planning a blockade of a part of Melbourne’s water supply.

People from across the Goulburn Valley will mount a blockade of the entrance to the Sugarloaf Reservoir from the 3^rd of February for two days.

It is the Sugarloaf Reservoir near Yarra Glen where the proposed pipeline will discharge.

Community groups from Kerang, Shepparton and Rochester will support the Yea Plug The Pipe group which is leading the blockade.

“We are taking this unusual action because the Brumby government’s plans to secure Victoria’s water are dangerously deceptive,” said Yea PTP spokesperson Jan Beer.

“Lake Eildon, which is the storage for the Goulburn River System has not been full for twelve years,” said Mrs Beer. “There are trees and grass growing in many parts of the lake bed. It is now being leased out by Goulburn Murray Water to farmers for cattle grazing to reduce the fire hazard. If the irrigators received their full water allocation the lake would be dry.”

“The Goulburn River is part of the Murray Darling system which is already over allocated and stressed. Yet we have recently learned that the government plans to pipe Goulburn water to several other towns. They are acting as if the Goulburn River is a magic pudding.”

“The North South Pipeline is a billion dollar deception. It’s about appearing to do something. But it is a flawed and unsustainable strategy. We have to take action to alert the Victorian public before our water crisis worsens. There is simply no spare water to send to Melbourne," concluded Mrs Beer.

Contacts: Yea, Jan Beer 5797 2436 0407 144 777

Kerang, Andrew Leahy 5457 2368 0408 500 875

Rochester, Eril Rathjen 5432 9266

More info at PLUG THE PIPE
and Yea Pipeline Resistance