Family First Calls for New Dams for Victoria (Media Release)
FAMILY FIRST is calling for new dams to be built in Victoria to boost and secure the state’s water supplies for the future.
We all know Victoria desperately needs more water and building dams is arguably the cheapest, and most sensible, way of addressing our water crisis.
Launching FAMILY FIRST’S water policy today, Victorian leader Cameron Eastman said: “Victoria desperately needs new dams.”
“Banning new dams is stupid. Yet for the last 20 years or so no politician has even dared talk about building more dams.
“With continued population growth, a ‘no dams’ policy is simply not an option. The situation is critical.”
FAMILY FIRST believes new dams would be exciting nation-building projects.
“They would create thousands of new jobs for Victorians and pump billions of dollars into our economy,” Cameron said.
“The Thomson Dam in Gippsland, opened in 1983, was the last major dam built in Victoria and it supplies 60 per cent of Melbourne’s water. Melbourne will have one million more people by 2030 and it is estimated another reservoir of similar size to the Thomson would give Melbourne up to 1,068,000 megalitres of water.”
Cameron said FAMILY FIRST was disappointed the major parties were reluctant to speak about dams because it was too controversial and they feared a public backlash.
“Of course this is a controversial issue, but Victorians want their politicians to lead, to tackle difficult issues and make tough decisions if required,” Cameron said. “This is a test of our next Government’s resolve.
As part of its ‘new dams’ policy, FAMILY FIRST wants:
It has been more than 20 years since a detailed study was done on dams. The 1985 Rural Water Commission report revealed 143 sites for a new dam with six most likely, including the Goulburn, Thompson and Macalister rivers.
FAMILY FIRST’S water policy also calls on the Government to:
We all know Victoria desperately needs more water and building dams is arguably the cheapest, and most sensible, way of addressing our water crisis.
Launching FAMILY FIRST’S water policy today, Victorian leader Cameron Eastman said: “Victoria desperately needs new dams.”
“Banning new dams is stupid. Yet for the last 20 years or so no politician has even dared talk about building more dams.
“With continued population growth, a ‘no dams’ policy is simply not an option. The situation is critical.”
FAMILY FIRST believes new dams would be exciting nation-building projects.
“They would create thousands of new jobs for Victorians and pump billions of dollars into our economy,” Cameron said.
“The Thomson Dam in Gippsland, opened in 1983, was the last major dam built in Victoria and it supplies 60 per cent of Melbourne’s water. Melbourne will have one million more people by 2030 and it is estimated another reservoir of similar size to the Thomson would give Melbourne up to 1,068,000 megalitres of water.”
Cameron said FAMILY FIRST was disappointed the major parties were reluctant to speak about dams because it was too controversial and they feared a public backlash.
“Of course this is a controversial issue, but Victorians want their politicians to lead, to tackle difficult issues and make tough decisions if required,” Cameron said. “This is a test of our next Government’s resolve.
As part of its ‘new dams’ policy, FAMILY FIRST wants:
- A re-elected Bracks Government, or a Baillieu Government, to immediately investigate the best sites for new dams as well as the social, environmental and economic impacts of each potential site;
- The Government to hold an extensive community consultation process to hear the views of the Victorian community.
It has been more than 20 years since a detailed study was done on dams. The 1985 Rural Water Commission report revealed 143 sites for a new dam with six most likely, including the Goulburn, Thompson and Macalister rivers.
FAMILY FIRST’S water policy also calls on the Government to:
- Prepare a comprehensive water plan for Victoria until 2030;
- Increase rebates for households to install water tanks;
- Make it mandatory for new housing developments to install water tanks and have third-pipe schemes which allow centrally recycled water to be used to flush toilets and water gardens;
- Investigate ways to increase the waste water we recycle;
- More rebates for Victorians who buy water-saving products like various shower heads;
- A water-saving awareness campaign aimed at children.
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