Moorabool council is urging the federal government to rethink its decision not to fund upgrades to the Bacchus Marsh irrigation district.
Moorabool chief executive Rob Croxford criticised Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce’s decision not to include Bacchus Marsh and Werribee market gardeners in a $45 million Victorian water upgrade package announced earlier this month.
“Council is disappointed the Bacchus Marsh irrigation district (BMID)modernisation project – and the broader Werribee district – has been overlooked by the [federal] government’s announcement,” Mr Croxford said.
“The state government, in its 2016-17 budget, provided $4.5 million, matched by a similar amount from Southern Rural Water, to progress stage one of the Bacchus Marsh upgrade.”
He said the upgrade could not proceed without a matching contribution by the federal government from its $45 million package.
“Agricultural production on the Bacchus Marsh river flats generates about $190 million a year,” he said. “That could grow to $240 million if increased security of water supply and efficiency of the irrigation district is improved. About 580 people are employed in the sector in Bacchus Marsh, and Werribee is an even larger district. We urge minister Joyce to include the BMID as a priority.”
