Press conference, Bendigo

HARLEY DOUGLAS, DJAARA ACTING CEO: Thank you all. I'm Harley Douglas. I look forward to the day that people get my last name correct.

There's a couple of Harley's in the business, and it's very difficult for people. I'm a Djaara person from the Caroline Malcolm family group, and I am DJAARA’s acting CEO. I'm also a local resident and a customer of Coliban Water, and I'm very excited about this project and conserving water generally.

I will say welcome to our Country, home of Dja Dja Wurrung people. On behalf of all of us here, we'll pay our respects to ancestors from the past, our elders present, and those emerging leaders. I'll also say we meet together to return good health to country and spirit.

I think those words are really poignant today in the context of conserving water. I want to acknowledge obviously Country and those present here today on Country with us, our Federal Member, Lisa Chesters, the Minister for Environment and Water, Murray Watt, our partners at Coliban Water, Parks Victoria, and the City of Greater Bendigo, the North Central Catchment Management Authority, and I'm not sure if they're present, but our neighbours, Taungurung Land and Waters Council also.

I want to say a couple things from DJAARA’s perspective to help set the scene. Most of the water in these channels doesn't reach its intended destination because of the clearly outdated infrastructure that you see behind us. This initiative will save thousands of megalitres of water a year, allowing savings to be allocated back to the environment.

Through DJAARA’s partnership with Coliban Water, Coliban Water have committed to a 150-megalitre annual allocation to DJAARA just through the savings made on this project. This project is a massive step towards lessening the impact of water extraction from our country and empowers DJAARA to apply cultural governance to return water back to country in the way that our ancestors would have liked.

I also want to say, as a local resident who has a Coliban Water channel on my own property in Lockwood, I want to comment on the genuine engagement and approach that has been taken through consultation with community that remains ongoing throughout the project. There's been really great communication and involvement, collaboration with the community to have parts of the channel actually stay there where it would have had more of an impact on the environment to remove it.

So I just want to commend that approach and listening to the residents and the customers of the area. Thank you. MURRAY WATT, MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER: Thank you very much, Harley, for welcoming us to country.

It's really important to have you here today representing traditional owners and for reminding us about the many, many thousands of years that traditional owners and our Indigenous Australians have had a particularly important spiritual and cultural connection to water. So, we're very grateful for you welcoming us and being part of this ceremony today. Well, I'm absolutely delighted to be here on what is a very big day for Bendigo and for the Murray-Darling Basin as a whole.

And can I of course also acknowledge the other dignitaries, Bob, my very good friend Lisa Chesters, who's done such an exceptional job here as the federal representative for Bendigo for over 10 years. To Harley, to Daniel, to Andrew, all of the other special guests, it's a real pleasure to join you here today. As I mentioned, today’s announcement is, of course, really important to Bendigo and the local area, but it's also important for the Murray-Darling Basin as a whole.

The Murray-Darling Basin, of course, is our nation's biggest and most important water system, and we know that there are many interests in terms of how we manage the Murray-Darling Basin, from those of First Nations people to local communities who rely on that water to industries that rely on that water. And of course, as the Federal Environment Minister, I'm very focused on the environmental needs of managing the Murray-Darling Basin in a sustainable way.

Over the next couple of days, I'm going to be undertaking a number of different meetings with stakeholders in both central and northern Victoria, everyone from councils to farmers to irrigators more generally to environmentalists, to listen very carefully to people about the future of the Basin so that we can take all of that into account as we're reviewing the Murray-Darling Basin plan.

But of course, what we're here for today in particular is to announce this ground-breaking project for Bendigo and the local region. And I'm very pleased to announce that the Federal Government will be joining with Coliban Water to fund a $160 million water efficiency infrastructure project right here in Bendigo. Now, this water infrastructure project, as I say, will provide important and more reliable and more sustainable water supplies to the local region, but it will also deliver more water for the Murray-Darling Basin as a whole.

And that's going to be achieved by modernising the water infrastructure around Bendigo and surrounding townships. I do want to particularly acknowledge the role that Lisa Chesters has played in getting this project funded and getting it up at the federal level through her tireless advocacy for this project. I can literally tell you that having become the Minister for Water after last year's election, the very first member of our government to come to me seeking assistance for her local area on water was Lisa about this very project.

She made it very clear to me how important this project is for this region as a whole and to make sure that it does have ongoing reliable and sustainable water supplies. So, Lisa, you can take a lot of credit for this having been approved. As many of you live who live locally will know, Coliban Water’s rural water supply network dates back to the 1870s, and it delivers up to 7000 megalitres of water each year to over 1000 customers, including families, farms, and small businesses.

But as you can see from the infrastructure behind us, it's a little bit tired, and it is very much out of date and in desperate need of an upgrade. And in fact, in its current form, the channels that we see in this local water system are estimated to lose nearly 80 per cent of their water due to leaks and seepage and evaporation, and that's simply not good enough at a time when we need to be conserving every single drop of water that we have.

So this water efficiency project that we'll be funding with Coliban Water is a major step forward in delivering a much more efficient and sustainable water future for this region for generations to come. We expect that it will reduce those water losses, it'll increase the use of recycled water throughout the network, and it'll increase reliability and productivity for customers and irrigators.

In terms of the funding being provided, all up, it's $160 million, of which the Albanese Government will be contributing $120 million through our Resilient Rivers Water Infrastructure Program, with up to $40 million being contributed by Coliban Water. And I, of course, thank Bob and everyone at Coliban Water for all of the work that's been done to get this project to this stage and for that funding.

In terms of the broader impacts for the Murray-Darling Basin, they are, as I say, very important. We are living in a world where climate change is making the climate in this region drier, and we need to save every single drop that we possibly can. And this water efficiency project will contribute almost 4.6 gigalitres towards the Basin Plan’s 450-gigalitre water recovery target to improve the health of the Murray-Darling Basin.

So that's a very significant contribution that's going to be made to the environmental health of the Murray-Darling Basin just through this one project, which is another reason to support it. And finally, as Harley referred to in a really innovative approach that Coliban Water have taken, a total of 300 megalitres of water savings from this project will also be returned to Traditional Owners for self-determined use, recognising their ongoing spiritual and cultural connection to water in this region.

It's one of the things the Albanese Government has done through our revitalising of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, is look for opportunities to work with Traditional Owners to increase ownership of local water resources by the First Peoples of this region so that they can continue some of the practices that they've been undertaking here for many, many generations.

So as I say, a really terrific day. Congratulations again to Lisa, congratulations to everyone at Coliban Water. And we look forward to being back before too long to shovel some dirt and joining with you as this project goes forward.

Thanks very much. BOB CAMERON, COLIBAN WATER CHAIR: Thank you. Well, thank you very much, Murray Watt.

As you say, this is going to be very important to the environment. And I know Brad from the North Central Catchment Management Authority is certainly going to welcome that as I think all people who care about our environment do. But when you have a look at our rural system, substantially it's dilapidated, it's clapped out.

And what that means is that, as an organisation that relies on customers to fund us, water bills would have to essentially quadruple for our rural customers if we were to go out and replace the system. So ultimately, that's just not going to fly. So, to have a substantial contribution like this from the Commonwealth is truly fantastic, Murray.

Because what it means is that we will be able to replace a lot of channels with pipe. We will keep some existing parts. We will also connect other people to recycled water or to potable water if they're close to town.

So, we're going to see the sort of change that is once in a lifetime. And without this contribution, this system ultimately just would have been doomed. And so I think rural customers can really appreciate that.

Now, I'm going to introduce you to Lisa Chesters to say thank you to Murray for coming. But can I say that I started discussions with Lisa on this about four years ago. She has been a dogged.

She helped us get business case funding two and a half years ago. And to finally see that realised, Lisa, can I just say thank you very much. It means a lot to us and it means a lot to Coliban.

And to all of you who have all contributed to bringing this about can I just say, on behalf of Coliban thank you very much and your efforts have really been appreciated. Please welcome Lisa Chesters. LISA CHESTERS, MEMBER FOR BENDIGO: Thank you, Bob Cameron, thank you very much Senator Murray Watt for joining us today and for this awesome announcement.

Thank you to our First Nation leaders that have joined us today and all the stakeholders and all the hard-working people at Coliban Water that have really brought this plan to fruition. When Bob first approached me and the language from Bob and Damian was, do we have a project for you? And there were three key things that jumped out at me when they presented the first “this is what we can do.” First was the opportunity to return water to our First Nations communities here in Central Victoria.

We've seen the extraordinary things that they've already been able to do, particularly DJAARA, with settlement. So, the opportunity for us to be part of that you could not walk past. The second thing that really jumped out at me was the evaporation rate.

The fact that we lose close to 80 per cent, and you can see it just here, of water to our rural customers. You could see what the future was going to look like if we did nothing and left this system as it was - people would run dry, it would take another drought, farms would be out of water, households would be out of water. We couldn't let that happen with that kind of evaporation rate - we had to act.

And the third reason that I really supported this project was this one project would return more water towards the target that the Federal Government set, than the entire nine years of the former Liberal-National Coalition Government - this one project. That is why this is smart infrastructure, it is needed infrastructure. And it will ensure all the customers, those 1100 customers, it gives them water security as our climate starts to warm and water will become a much more precious resource.

So this is a very exciting day. Murray is right. He was the first Minister I went to see when Parliament was recalled.

When the vote was still happening in the seat of Bendigo when we went through that recount just under 12 months ago, Murray had been in touch - he'd just been sworn in - and I said to him, “do I have a project for you?” That how important this project is and that is how important, that is why who you elect and who we send to Canberra matters. We need a government that we can partner with we need representatives that stand up and fight for what's right for our community.

A lot of people in Canberra tend to forget that the City of Greater Bendigo, Mount Alexander Shire are part of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. We have an opportunity here to help keep our end of the bargain and keep the system healthy by doing this work. So, this is exciting, it creates jobs along the way and it, most importantly, helps to secure a water security for these customers going forward.

So, looking forward to those sod turns and all the work that comes, but the consultation with community on how we can best make sure that they don't run dry into the future. So, thank you very much, Murray. This is an awesome investment and injection of resources and infrastructure into our community.

So thank you. MURRAY WATT: So as we were just saying, this is a really important water efficiency project for the Bendigo region, but for the Murray-Darling Basin as a whole as well. So it's going to increase the reliability of water supplies to the Bendigo region, but it will also contribute about 4.5 gigalitres of water back to the Murray-Darling Basin towards helping achieve the government's target of 450 gigalitres being recovered for the environment.

So this has got really national consequences, as well as of course being a really important local project. In a general sense, as you can see, the current channels here for this water system are pretty dilapidated. Many of them are broken, many of them need a major upgrade, and the problem is that the way the channels are structured at the moment, we're losing nearly 80 per cent of the water to evaporation, seepage, leakage, and that's simply not good enough at a time when we are seeing the climate drying.

So we want to be able to make sure that we can save every single drop of water that is available, and this project is a really key one towards achieving that. JOURNALIST: So this is currently open, so will it basically close the pipes? MURRAY WATT : That one I’ll hand it over to Bob.

BOB CAMERON: So what will happen is the majority of our customers will end up with a pipe system. We need to know who wants to be on the system and who wants to be off the system, then we have to configure that. So all of that will take time.

There will be some parts of the network that we will still be able to retain. And there will be some other customers, maybe because they live close to town, they'll be connected to potable water, and there will also be others that will want to connect to recycled water. So there's a whole mix of things that will occur in our system.

JOURNALIST: And today it's basically the announcement from the Federal Government, putting in $120 million into the $160 million project. What are the next steps going forward? BOB CAMERON: So we have to just say thank you so much to the Federal Government for this contribution.

Without it, our rural customers are left with a dilapidated system and ultimately that would mean closure. The alternative would have been to quadruple bills and that would just simply be unaffordable for so many people. So this means that our rural customers will still be able to continue to be connected.

To do the work, we have to sit down with customers and know their precise needs so that we can configure the system. All of that will take time. There will be the approvals process, some of that might involve negotiating easements, for example, and we'll have to do that across the system so that will take some years.

But what it means is that we're going to end up with a system that survives rather than collapses as well as bring about the water savings which the Federal Minister has spoken of. JOURNALIST: And when do we think the whole project will be done? BOB CAMERON: This will probably take five or so years.

It's got to be done in pieces, all of that negotiation with people. How much water they want, working out where pipes may or may not go, all of that's going to take a lot of time and it's going to have to be done bit by bit. JOURNALIST: And I mean you said that 80 per cent of the water is evaporated up.

I mean having - BOB CAMERON: JOURNALIST: Or lost. Having that saved now with this new project, what will that mean for our climate and for when we're suffering from droughts? Like what will that actually mean to keep that 80 per cent here to use?

BOB CAMERON: Well, what it means is that the Commonwealth will be able to use that amount of water for the environment, but what it means is that we get funding so that we have a system which can actually be used come drought. Because otherwise what would happen when a drought comes, the whole system would just be turned off. JOURNALIST: Bob, can I ask, one of the local residents here said that they use this walking track every day and they're concerned that the project might disrupt the walking track.

Can you provide some information? BOB CAMERON: The walking track will continue. LISA CHESTERS: If anything it will be safer.

JOURNALIST: It will be safer? Well that’s good. There you go.

LISA CHESTERS : Much safer, you won't fall into water, open water. JOURNALIST: How much of a concern is it for Coliban Water? I know if memory serves, last year Bendigo had what was known as a failed winter.

How much of a concern is that going into the future for this region? And does this project actually - yeah, is that able to combat against something like that? BOB CAMERON : Yes.

The Coliban system was the most reliable system in the state until the millennium drought, and since then it's actually been a relatively poor system. So if we can get more water into our Coliban dams, the better. And so part of this project means that with those water savings, we will give to the Commonwealth some shares that we've got in the Goulburn system.

So we've got more water in those dams near Kyneton, which is above Bendigo, Castlemaine and Kyneton. So that will increase water security for the entire region. JOURNALIST: And how will this connect to the Murray-Darling Basin?

Or help it? BOB CAMERON: Bendigo is in the Murray-Darling Basin, and the Federal Government is looking for water savings for the Murray-Darling Basin. This means that they'll be able to get those water savings, and in return we get the funds which will allow us to save our rural system so that people won't ultimately be taken off it.

JOURNALIST: And just in regards to the Federal Government, I guess you guys wanted to - you guys are putting $120 million into it. Why was it so important to provide that much money for this project? LISA CHESTERS: So I went in to fight really hard for this funding because I believe that people in Greater Bendigo deserve decent water infrastructure.

So our rural customers, just like our city and more urban customers have a good system, our rural customers deserve the same. And the fact that there's that level of engagement and consultation to work with customers, so households, businesses, farmers, about what's best going to suit them is a great piece to have. So for us this investment, it's a win-win, not only as a local member will my community get modern water infrastructure, we're also returning water to our First Nations communities and returning water to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

The Liberals and the Nationals said it couldn't be done, we're demonstrating that it can be done. When governments work with community, it can be done. JOURNALIST: If memory serves, the initial business case had this marked at around $100 million.

Is there- could you explain what the difference between the $100 million and the $160 million is? I might be getting that totally wrong. BOB CAMERON: Ultimately, we did a business case for the entire system, but what we've had to do is to make sure that we can get something that is more affordable and that is what we've been able to do.

So to get $120 million together with up to $40 million from Coliban will allow us to bring about this enormous saving across the entire system. JOURNALIST: And sorry, you did say more affordable, but it's costing $60 million more from the original business case? BOB CAMERON: No, I don't know where that number came from.

JOURNALIST: JOURNALIST: No, sorry, apologies about that. MURRAY WATT: I just might add something on the environment and the Federal Government bit, if that's okay? So our Government really takes seriously the responsibility to make sure that the Murray-Darling Basin is functioning sustainably for generations to come.

As Lisa said, when the former Coalition Government was in power, despite having a target to recover 450 gigalitres of water from the Basin for the environment, the former Government only recovered 2 gigalitres in the 10 years that they were in power. We have already, as a Government, recovered about 220 gigalitres. So we're well on track to achieve that target in a way the former government was unable to, but projects like this will help us reach that 450 gigalitre target.

And it's not just a matter of achieving numbers or ticking statistics and stuff like that. Why that matters is that if we don't recover that 450 gigalitres of water through projects like this, ultimately we will see the Murray-Darling Basin in a crisis state forever. And that would be terrible for the communities that rely on the Basin, like Bendigo.

It would be terrible for local agriculture, and of course it would be terrible for the local environment. So investing in these projects is a real investment in the future of the environment and communities that rely on the Murray-Darling Basin. : Perfect, that’s all I need. MURRAY WATT: Thanks all.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.