[Greens-Media] Media Release: Greens Water Policy

[Greens Victoria Media]

Media Release: for immediate use
Wednesday September 6, 2006
Contact: Louis Delacretaz on (mob) 0407 300 188

Real state government action on water must start now say the Greens

The Victorian Greens Water spokesperson Louis Delacretaz, released  the 
Greens Water policy* today.  This announcement is the next in a series 
of policy announcements in the lead up to the November 25 state election.

"Managing water is the twenty first century’s most important resource 
issue," said Louis Delacretaz. "Water is critical to every household, to 
our economy and for healthy catchments. We take too much and waste too 
much," said Louis Delacretaz. "Our creeks suffer from salinity, 
sedimentation, pollution and loss of native vegetation, often caused by 
logging."

The Greens in state parliament after November 25, will work to:
- bring the Murray River environmental flows up to 3,000GL by 2020
- stop logging in designated water catchments and protect and 
re-vegetate aquifer recharge zones
- double the rebates payable for installing water conservation measures
- increase water conservation targets for industry to 30% by 2015-
- increase Melbourne's  water use reduction target and set it at 25% by 
2010 and 30% by 2015
- increase educational programs to help people reduce their water usage 
($8m over four years)
- increase incentives to farmers to improve water use practices ($50m 
over  four years)
- introduce more 'water smart' irrigation methods to reduce losses
- provide incentives for farmers choose farming ventures that are better 
suited to a drier climate
- upgrade sewage treatment plants to produce class A water for use in 
industry and agriculture as sewerage treatment plants are upgraded and 
the water reused, close all sewage outfalls starting with Gunnamatta.

"Water pricing needs to reflect the importance of water so that we can 
reduce wasteful practices," said Louis Delacretaz. "With climate change 
making Victoria hotter and drier, we must plan - and act - to cope with 
a 10 to 15 per cent reduction in available water over the next 20 years."

"Don't take my word for it," said Louis Delacretaz. "This is the CSIRO's 
calculation."

For more information and comment please contact:
Louis Delacretaz on (mob) 0407 300 188 or
Dave Lane on (mob) 0419 156 213
*Background:  The full Greens Water policy is attached.

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