Sugarloaf pipeline project delayed

By Melissa Meehan
CONSTRUCTION of the north-south Sugarloaf pipeline has been delayed until at least the middle of the year because of environmental assessments.
Federal member for Murray and Shadow Minister for the Environment, Dr Sharmain Stone said that the delay comes as no surprise considering the “quick and totally inadequate” 1700 pages of the Project Impact Assessment (PIA).
Local Federal member Fran Bailey has congratulated local communities who had fought against the project, following the announcement that the State Government’s north-south pipeline project would be delayed.
“Without the sustained opposition from our local Plug the Pipe Group and those affected by this pipeline project, this delay would never have occurred,” Ms Bailey said.
“Let us hope that now, in light of the serious concerns I raised in Parliament regarding the Project Impact Assessment (PIA) report, and this week’s disclosure of serious water pollution issues, that the Federal Environment Minister and the State Government give up their mission to build this ill-conceived pipeline.”
Ms Bailey said local residents had never faltered in their opposition to the pipeline.
“From day one, I have worked with an enormous number of residents from all walks of life, who will be affected by this project and they have all had that same determination, that they will not stand by and watch while their precious water is stolen for Melbourne’s use, or that their land will be taken away and livelihoods put in jeopardy,” Ms Bailey said.
The 3775 Pipeline Group spokesperson Malcolm Calder did not share the same response as Ms Bailey upon hearing the announcement.
“The announcement is not really that significant, the timetable released in November last year did not take into account the time it takes to do the necessary reports,” Mr Calder said.
“It will only delay the project for a few weeks.”
Water Minister Tim Holding was unable to be contacted by the Mail at time of print.