MEDIA RELEASE FROM CRAIG INGRAM MP - MEMBER FOR GIPPSLAND EAST Issued: Friday, 16th November 2007

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Ingram welcomes $50m coalition commitment for Snowy River

The Independent Member for Gippsland East, Craig Ingram, has welcomed this afternoon’s commitment by the coalition to spend $50 million to assist Water for Rivers to meet the environmental water savings targets for the Snowy River.

Mr Ingram is a long-time campaigner for the Snowy River and was elected to the Victorian Parliament in 1999 on a platform of restoring flows to the ailing Australian icon.

“This afternoon’s funding commitment is most welcome,” Mr Ingram said.

“As well as the funding commitment, the Federal Coalition has joined the Victorian Government in declaring that dedicated environmental flows should be returned to the Mowamba.

“This should place additional pressure on the NSW Labor Government to live up to the commitments made by the two state premiers and Peter Garrett at the site over five years ago.

“These commitments are as a direct response to meetings and representation that I and other Snowy campaigners have made to Federal Government representatives during past months in the lead-up to the election.

“The coalition has listened and acted accordingly to the calls for more to be spent on water saving initiatives.

“This commitment has been made on the basis that the coalition is re-elected and I now call on the Labor Party to match or better this announcement.

“I also note the coalition’s commitment to establishing the Snowy Scientific Committee, which is five years overdue.

“I congratulate Malcolm Turnbull and Gary Nairn on this announcement and also acknowledge the work of the Federal Member for Gippsland, Peter McGauran.

“While this commitment to ensuring that the Snowy receives its just share of environmental flows has been belated, it will be welcomed by the Snowy community,” Mr Ingram concluded.