Close Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Read Our Newspapers Online
    • Read the Latest Western Port News
    • Read the Latest Mornington News
    • Read the Latest Southern Peninsula News
    • Read the Latest Frankston Times
    • Read the Latest Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
  • Competition
  • Home New
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Wednesday, July 2
Breaking News
  • E-bike rider charged following fatal collision in Hastings
Facebook X (Twitter)
MPNEWSMPNEWS
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Home New
Breaking News
MPNEWSMPNEWS
Home»News»Water supply a poll issue
News

Water supply a poll issue

By Keith PlattMarch 12, 2019Updated:July 16, 2024No Comments3 Mins Read
Fluid alliance: Calling on politicians to make better use of treated wastewater being pumped into the sea near Gunnamatta are, from left, Main Ridge avocado grower Steve Marshall, Russell Joseph, Chris Brayne and David Gill. Picture: Supplied
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email
Fluid alliance: Calling on politicians to make better use of treated wastewater being pumped into the sea near Gunnamatta are, from left, Main Ridge avocado grower Steve Marshall, Russell Joseph, Chris Brayne and David Gill. Picture: Supplied

Politicians are being asked to forget their differences and adopt a bipartisan approach to provide the Mornington Peninsula’s “hinterland” with secure water supplies for agriculture and fire fighting.

The authors of the Hinterland Environmental Water Scheme (HEWS), Steve Marshall and Russell Joseph, say political posturing should be replaced with election promises to finance feasibility studies and design of a system to use treated wastewater now being discharged into Bass Strait, near Gunnamatta.

Some steps towards taking the politics out of the equation have already been taken with the newly-elected Labor MP for Nepean, Chris Brayne, saying he hopes “my government can work with both the shire and federal government to fund the much needed feasibility study as quickly as possible”. Mr Joseph, the Liberal Party’s candidate for Nepean, was defeated by Mr Brayne at the 24 November state election.

The former political foes are now united in their efforts to at least investigate using the 350 million litres of class treated water from the Eastern Treatment Plant in Carrum instead of pumping it into the sea.  

Mr Joseph says a draft report into using the water “showed we can preserve our farming hinterland for generations to come with a genuine a green wedge compatible agricultural industry built on a sustainable water supply”.

Low rainfall summer across the peninsula had reinforced the need for “developing a drought and climate change resistant water supply to guarantee our ongoing local horticultural production and provide a secure water supply for fire fighting”.

The state government has also listed the HEWS as a high priority project in its strategic directions statement published by the Western Port Integrated Water Management Forum.

Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr David Gill said the scheme would “ensure we have ready access to an abundant supply of water for our fire-prone hinterland”.

“This water will ensure our peninsula has adequate fire-fighting and environmental protection to secure and expand production of our world renowned horticultural products for decades to come.”

Mr Brayne and Cr Gill recently visited a packing shed at Peninsula Avocados, which is run by the HEWS co-author, Steve Marshall.

Dams are nearly dry on the Main Ridge property and Mr Marshall says he has “only just managed to keep the fruit in prime condition in time for picking and packing”.

“Over the last few years we have lost entire crops due to heat waves as the shortage of water across the hinterland has prevented us keeping our fruit cool,” Mr Marshall said. 

“The HEWS will provide an unlimited and cost effective solution and will transform agriculture for a range of crops right across our region.”

Mr Marshall said it would “make sense in a federal election year for both sides of politics to make a clear commitment to at least fund the detailed design and feasibility for the HEWS”.

First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 12 March 2019

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

Railway station scam

July 1, 2025

Flinders result unaffected by poll blunder – AEC

July 1, 2025

Grand Hotel’s tower revamp signals new chapter for icon

June 26, 2025

McCrae telco tower refused over visual impact

June 26, 2025
Add A Comment

Comments are closed.

Peninsula Essence Magazine – Click to Read
Peninsula Kids Magazine – Click to Read
Letters to the Editor
Property of the Week

14 Bass Street, McCrae

June 3, 2025
Council Watch

Shire secures $3.9m to tackle road safety

June 16, 2025

Kinder flyer flag snub prompts councillors to take over

June 10, 2025
100 Years Ago This Week

Baxter – On The ‘Wallaby’ with a walking group

July 1, 2025
Interview

Firefighter shows skills from sea to snow

February 5, 2024
Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Home New
About

Established in 2006, Mornington Peninsula News Group (MPNG) is a locally owned and operated, independent media company.

MPNG publishes five weekly community newspapers: the Western Port News, Mornington News, Southern Peninsula News, Frankston Times and Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News.

MPNG also publishes two glossy magazines: Peninsula Essence and Peninsula Kids.

Facebook X (Twitter)
© 2025 Mornington Peninsula News Group.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.