Nationals state Lowan MP Emma Kealy and opposition water spokesperson and Euroa MP Steph Ryan met with Mininera area landowners on Wednesday to discuss the proposed East Grampians Pipeline.
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About 13 water users attended the meeting at Mininera Football Grounds and told the MPs that they faced destocking and fire risks without improved access to water.
They also said a pipeline would bring more employment and the prospect of new higher-density crops and livestock farming to the region, and there was little opposition to the project except for concern about higher costs.
The $85.2 million project would construct a pipeline network to deliver a secure stock and domestic township water supply for up to 530,000 hectares of land.
Ararat Rural City councillor Jo Armstrong also attended the meeting.
Ms Kealy and Ms Ryan urged the landowners to keep pushing for outside funding for the pipeline as the new state and federal budgets drew nearer.
Ms Ryan said she had brought up the project in Canberra with federal ministers.
“There was certainly a lot of concern at Mininera that water security is just not there at the moment,” she said.
“In the last five years out of ten, people have had to cut back on water or augment their supply.
“It is clear that the issue is holding back investment in the region.”
Ms Ryan said it was time for the state government to contribute as the business case had been submitted.