18 October
2006 - I am pleased that the State Government
has now matched Ted Ballieu's promise to upgrade
the Eastern Treatment Plant to tertiary level.
Now that we have bipartisan
support, hopefully it is the beginning of the
end for Gunnamatta.
There are however three issues:
First, the same Minister made
the same promise in 2001 and welched on it.
Second, the proposal is accompanied
by an $18.5 million gift to consultants for a
"study" on a possible use for the upgraded
water. This gift to consultants is a waste of
money and comes three years after I personally
presented the proposal to Minister Thwaites.
After so many years the question
must now be: Where is the plan and why do we have
to wait until after the election?
Third, the State proposal is
approximately $100 million more expensive than
the Victorian Opposition's costing of the task.
In that context, it is amazing that the State
has refused to hand over the feasibility study
for which the Commonwealth has allocated $1 million
in funding.
I will be supporting any reasonable
application for appropriate Commonwealth contribution
to help clean up Gunnamatta - no matter which
party wins government in Victoria.
John Deller (Mr Hunt's office)
