Pipeline protest fails to break Bracks

Victorian Premier Steve Bracks is unmoved by farmer protests against his proposed pipeline from the Goulburn and Murray Valleys to Melbourne.

Mr Bracks says no one with full knowledge of the scheme would oppose it.

"I understand they have concerns, but once they understand and hear about the project, it's hard to imagine that anyone could oppose it," he said.

"Anyone who hears the case would have to say this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve the capacity of the water-supply system to the irrigators."

Mr Bracks appears to have neutralised the Victorian Farmers' Federation's opposition to the project.

The VFF expressed "strong opposition" to the plan at a conference last month.

But VFF president Simon Ramsay hinted earlier this week that the organisation could be "flexible".

Yesterday he released a statement saying he welcomed aspects of the project, after Mr Bracks promised that only savings generated by the scheme would be pumped to Melbourne.

But Mr Ramsay said the VFF remained officially opposed to the pipeline.

SOURCE: The Age, Melbourne.

Powered by ScribeFire.