The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has welcomed the State Minister for Water Tim Holding’s decision to extend the deadline for submissions regarding the Draft Western Region Sustainable Water Strategy (WRSWS) for another month, following a request from the Federation in April.
Subscribe now for unlimited access to all our agricultural news
across the nation
or signup to continue reading
VFF Water Council Chair Richard Anderson said the Federation would now have more time to consult with its members in the Western district regarding the proposed plan and present a more accurate and detailed submission to the Department by the new closing date of 21 June 2010.
“The VFF has conducted seven briefing sessions across the region to allow members an opportunity to outline their ideas regarding to the Draft WRSWS,” Mr Anderson said.
“The feedback from our members during these sessions indicated an urgent need to extend the 21 May deadline for submissions. It was clear that the amount of time that the Strategy has been available for public consultation has not been sufficient for reviewing and providing detailed comment on the complex document.
“Members, including a number within the dairy community, felt they needed more time to respond to the Strategy due to its complexity, with the 288 page document listing 60 individual proposals. In addition they felt that given the document will set the agenda for water use for the next 50 years feedback should not be made lightly.
“We outlined in a letter to the Minister and the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) that the timeline for submissions was being thrust upon Western Victorian farmers during one of their busiest times of year, while they are the ones most affected by its outcome and should be granted extra time to review the document in its entirety.
“Given the wide range of issues covered in the Strategy, including the controversial issues of land use change and Stock and Domestic water, the VFF was more than happy to raise its members’ concerns with Minister Holding and the DSE and was pleased to receive notice today that the deadline for submission until 21 June 2010.
“I urge all Western Victorian farmers to access the Draft Strategy from the Department’s website at www.dse.vic.gov.au and provide any additional feedback to the VFF as soon as possible to ensure it is included in the Federation’s submission,” Mr Anderson concluded.
