MEMBER for Mildura Ali Cupper has vowed to fight for an extension of the Mildura urban water supply if she is re-elected on November 26.
The increase in blackwater with the rising Murray River has prompted the Independent MP’s call for an extension of the urban water network.
Ms Cupper, who has held talks with Lower Murray Water and Victorian Water Minister Harriet Shing on the issue, said that residents on the fringes of Mildura’s urban water supply would benefit from access to town water.
“What we have is a number of dwellings on the urban fringe where there are an increasing number of people living semi-rurally,” Ms Cupper said.
“However, their lack of access to town water means that they are reliant on rainwater or channel water for their domestic use.
“This can be problematic on a number of fronts. For example, hygiene for people who have had surgery, and people with skin sensitivities.
“Currently with the Murray in flood, we are seeing the water blacken due to an increased amount of leaves, branches and other organic matter being washed into the flooded river, releasing carbon into the water.
“For people not on the urban water supply, this can cause them to have difficulty with their water filters and can also render the water unusable.”
She is calling on the Victorian Government to fund the works.
“It’s not for Lower Murray Water to have to find the resources for this from within their existing infrastructure budget,” Ms Cupper said.
“This is an infrastructure project of significance to the entire state, and requires serious investment from the government.”
