State Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy said the petition had been strongly supported by the community and would remain open for signing.
“As people continue to sign the petition throughout the region it will remain open and be progressively collated and presented to the Victorian Parliament,” he said.
“We have an ideal opportunity to refer the Big Buffalo project to the Federal Government’s new National Water Grid Authority for investigation, but Victorian Labor has flatly refused so this petition calls on the Andrews Government to urgently reverse its shortsighted refusal.”
Mr McCurdy explained the next steps in getting the proposal up.
“I'm meeting with all councils in my electorate to let them know how the proposal we are looking at is a different perspective (to previous proposals),” he said.
“Then I will write a report to send to the (Federal) Minister of Infrastructure Michael McCormack to see if he can refer it without the Victorian Government because it's clear they don’t want to do it.
“I would like to have it sent by the middle to end of March.”
The petition asks Victorian MPs to request the Victorian Government refer the possible expansion of Lake Buffalo and its connection to Lake Nillahcootie via a pipeline, to the new National Water Grid Authority for investigation.
Mr McCurdy said the petition asked MPs to recognise:
● The land around Lake Buffalo was always set aside for a future project to create Big Buffalo.
● Communities are crying out for greater water security and reliability, which Big Buffalo could deliver.
● Big Buffalo could help reduce reliance on downstream lakes, where there are huge evaporative losses every year and Aboriginal artefacts are being disturbed.
● The Federal Government has $3.5 billion on the table for water investments and the Victorian Government must secure our fair share.
The petition can be signed online at www.buildbigbuffalo.com.au or at the following locations:
● Cobram Newsagency, 43-45 Bank St, Cobram.
● Yarrawonga Newsagency, 81 Belmore St, Yarrawonga.
● Tim McCurdy’s electorate office, 15 Murphy St, Wangaratta.
● Myrtleford Newspower, 21 Clyde St, Myrtleford.
● Bright Newsagency, 28 Ireland St, Bright.
21°C