pipeline going down brumby's drain

There has been much news about the Sugarloaf Pipeline of late, much of it centred around what a flawed project it is. I couldn't agree more.
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How many more times does Premier Brumby have to hear how stressed the Murray Darling Basin is, before he puts a stop to the North South pipeline project?
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On a recent trip I needed to drive the length of the Melba Highway from the Shire of Yarra Ranges through to the Murrindindi Shire and beyond. I was impressed by the number of anti pipe signs on properties along the entire length of the highway.
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There is no doubt that there is serious community opposition to this project and with good reason. We are still to see any evidence of claimed water savings.
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Excerpt from YARRA RANGES SHIRE COUNCIL MINUTES -12/02/08
Sugarloaf Interconnector Pipeline
Resolved on the motion of Crs McRae and Dunn
That:
1. The State Government and Federal Government be advised that we oppose the construction of the Sugarloaf Pipeline Interconnector project until claimed water savings can be demonstrated.
2. A report providing a synopsis of the environmental, social and economic impacts for the Shire be prepared by officers and presented to the next Council Meeting.
A division was called.
For: Crs Dunn, Avery, Keane, Cliff and McRae
Against: Crs Smith, Warren, Cox and Heenan

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It is hard not to be cynical about Seymour being on Stage 1 water restrictions. I was shocked to see people watering their gardens in the middle of the day and then saw the signage confirming that Stage 1 water restrictions apply to Seymour. Lake Eildon is at 14% capacity, Seymour is not awash with water. There is no spare water for Melbourne. .

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Toolangi State Forest is yet another loser, a 30 metre wide construction zone is required, all this vegetation will go, this is a very high price to pay for a pipe that will have no water running through it.

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There are much better options for water for Melbourne, lets hope that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will immediately implement his pre election policy statement * "in almost all of our cities we still waste more water than we should, with million of litres of storm water literally going down the drain. The combined volume of waste water and storm water discharged from households in each of Australia's major cities is far greater than the volume of water demand at each location. This is one of the areas where Labor hopes to encourage local innovation".

* Labor's National Plan to Tackle the Water Crisis - Election 2007 Policy Document.