Fed: Govt wants urgent start to water purchase for basin

AAP General News (Australia)
04-29-2008
Fed: Govt wants urgent start to water purchase for basin

The federal government says it'll create a new body .. to administer water allocations
it buys from the Murray-Darling Basin to replenish the depleted river system.

Water and Climate Change Minister PENNY WONG has announced details of a 12.9 billion
dollar plan .. to secure water in rural and urban Australia over the next decade.

Senator WONG says the government will invest in infrastructure projects to improve
efficiency and to return water to the rivers.

She says the purchased water will be held by a new body called the Commonwealth Environmental
Water Holder.

And the minister says the government will ensure the three billion dollars .. set aside
to buy back water from irrigators in the basin .. is spent on securing water for healthy
rivers in the form of water entitlements.

AAP RTV krc/evt/tm/af

KEYWORD: WATER (SYDNEY)

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