Mr Clugston discussed the Wimmera-Mallee water pipeline project, which was started by community initiative. For many years there had been huge losses of water from the open channel gravity-supply for the local dry-land farms and also for the town supplies.

Under this project 17,500 km of open channels will be replaced by 8,500 km of water pipelines, which will transport the water under pressure.

Mr Clugston said the success of the project is in the combination of high-security of supply, the regional development opportunity and the fact that the project will return some of the water to the natural environment.