Dollar

In The Pipeline

3 October 2008

- Billion-dollar improvements to the irrigation network in the Goulburn-Murray district are forecast by the Government to save billions of litres of water that is now lost in seepage and evaporation.

- The water saved by these irrigation upgrades will be divided three ways, with one-third going to farmers, one-third to environmental flows in rivers and one third to Melbourne through the pipe.

- Melbourne effectively purchased its "third" because Melbourne Water contributed $300 million to the irrigation upgrades and is paying $750 million to build the pipe.

- The Government has promised that Melbourne's third of water savings will not be larger than 75 billion litres in any given year.

- The pipe will run 70 kilometres from just outside Yea to Sugarloaf Reservoir near Yarra Glen.

- It will cross through more than 100 properties, with owners to be compensated for the use of the pipe easement during construction.

- Compensation for general losses will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, with some affected wineries and property developers already in legal discussions with Melbourne Water. -- PETER KER

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