Water in the Pipeline

Residents of Point Sturt have at long last received water security with the completion of a pipeline to the Point Sturt Peninsula. 

Since being elected in September 2008 and in conjunction with the Shadow Minister for Climate Action, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP, I lobbied hard for the funding of a spur pipeline from the existing Milang-Clayton line.

Faced with severe water shortages and experiencing one of the worst droughts on record, residents of Point Sturt were living in uncertainty. I was extremely pleased therefore when the Rudd Government finally stepped in last October and agreed to fund mains water to the region.

Although well over-due, I welcome last Friday’s completion of the pipeline and will closely monitor its operation into the future. Ensuring residents of Point Sturt continue to receive water security must remain a priority.

The completion of the pipeline however further highlights the on-going water crisis and the genuine need for a national approach to water management. Only after months of lobbying did the Federal Government agree to intervene and step in where the Rann State Government had failed. Residents of Point Sturt deserved better.

If elected and if State Governments remain un-willing to refer responsibility of the Murray Darling Basin to the Commonwealth by mid 2012, a Coalition Government would put constitutional changes to the Australian people for a national take-over of the Basin.