Tony Windsor (New England, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources and relates to a recent announcement of $6½ million from the Australian government water fund towards a $29 million upgrade of Chaffey Dam in my electorate. Given that the Deputy Prime Minister declared that the funding was a done deal and not an election promise, how does the minister explain comments in today’s Financial Review, where his office states in relation to Chaffey Dam:

... there were hurdles to clear before the commonwealth funding could proceed.

His office also stated that the project needed to be ‘consistent with the principles of the National Water Initiative and the objectives of the National Plan for Water Security’. Could the minister explain these inconsistencies between his office’s statements and Mr Vaile’s announcements? Could the minister guarantee to the people of Tamworth that the upgrade will proceed?

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