Shepparton delegation to learn about the Northern Basin

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Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed and a convoy of Shepparton farmers, water stakeholders, and councillors will embark on a learning tour of the Darling River to better understand water issues in the Northern Murray Darling Basin.

The delegation, made up of 15 people, will leave Shepparton on Sunday and travel across southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. The group includes Greater Shepparton councillor Geoff Dobson, dairy industry specialist and former Bega Cheese supply manager Stuart Brown, dairy farmer Russell Pell, and previous chair of the Region 2 Murray Darling Association and ex-Shepparton mayor Dennis Patterson.

Ms Sheed said there were many stories about water storage and usage in the Northern Basin, so she decided that the Shepparton community should meet with farmers, politicians, Indigenous leaders, water advocates, and people keen to restore a healthy river system in the Northern Basin.

“Irrigators and water users in the Shepparton Irrigation District understand the difficulties of managing with less water in the system, so we are interested to learn how our counterparts in the Northern Basin are dealing with the issue,” Ms Sheed said.

“Visiting farms and speaking to experts along the way will equip us with the knowledge to see the Murray Darling Basin as a whole and it will give us a clearer picture on how operations in the Northern Basin may affect the Southern Basin, and the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District.

“We also want to gain a better background knowledge on floodplain harvesting and how this impacts the Darling River and water delivery more broadly.”

Ms Sheed and the delegation will start their trip in Wentworth and travel along the Darling River to Menindee, Tilpa, Kallara Station, Dirranbandi, St George, Moree and the Macquarie Marshes.

 

ENDS

Media contact

Elaine Cooney 0447 820 466│elaine.cooney@parliament.vic.gov.au

Sheed seeks water allocation for Greens Lake

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Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has called on both the Commonwealth and Victorian Environmental Water Holders, as well as the acting Minister for Water Richard Wynne, to allocate environmental water for Greens Lake.

Greens Lake was previously used by Goulbourn Murray Water for water storage to supplement the larger storage of Waranga Basin. As a result of the Connections Project which concluded last October, significant water savings for the environment were achieved and as part of the project the Greens Lake was decommissioned.

This means the only water now available to the lake is the extremely limited amount which accumulates from the natural catchment.

“Prior to its decommissioning, the lake was a very popular recreational area. It has a boat ramp, camping facilities and the Shire of Campaspe recently installed new toilet facilities. Families regularly camped in the lovely tree surrounded location, and fishing and boating were popular on the lake,” Ms Sheed said.

‘Up one end of the lake is a wetland area which has many water birds including brolga, pelicans, ducks and many other species.

“Over the summer the lake has been dropping considerably and is now at 21% capacity. Many people in the community are concerned about the loss of this local recreational facility, especially following the decommissioning of Lake Cooper several years ago.”

“They have also expressed concerns that a fish kill is imminent because of the falling levels and the warm weather. I have now been advised that a nearby smaller lake is experiencing a fish kill as a result of low water levels.”

“It is apparent that when this project was put together little or no thought was given to the recreational and environmental values of the lake for our local community and the impact of that loss is now being felt,” Ms Sheed said.

“Allocation for Greens Lake will restore its environmental values, which will have the flow-on effect of enabling recreational users to also enjoy water activities, fishing and boating on the lake. This would also contribute significantly to the community and social amenity of the area.”

ENDS

Media contact

Leanne Raditsas 0422 211 774│leanne.raditsas@parliament.vic.gov.au

 

Sheed presses government for solution on firewood collection and permits

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The state government has promised to work with Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed to ensure people who have no access to firewood, gas or electric heating can remain warm during the winter months.

Ms Sheed said that the banning of firewood collection from state forests was causing unnecessary hardship for many families, particularly in “the communities of Barmah, Picola and Nathalia in my electorate and across most of northern Victoria”.

In State Parliament, Ms Sheed pressed the Minister for Energy, Climate Change and Environment, The Hon Lily D’Ambrosio for a solution. The minister said that, working with Ms Sheed, she would look at the possible reintroduction of firewood gathering permits.

Ms Sheed added: “Barmah and Picola have no access to natural gas, and many people in these communities rely entirely on firewood gathered by them during the firewood collection season to heat their homes.

“Many are on low incomes and pensions and do not have the capacity to switch to the split systems or solar, despite the rebates that may be offered.

“It seems very harsh to impose a change like this at a time like this.”

“Minister, will you reconsider the imposition of this ban and allow people to collect firewood for their own personal needs within their local communities in northern Victoria this winter?

Minister D’Ambrosio replied that she was willing to consult with Ms Sheed to find solutions for vulnerable families and individuals.

The Minister added: “Availability of supply is very much dependent on weather conditions, bushfire-affected areas and the like.

“Now, that will not give a lot of comfort to the member for Shepparton, but what I will say to the member for Shepparton is that we are absolutely committed as a government to doing all we can to assist those who are most vulnerable in terms of being able to get access to the necessary heating for them, especially in the coming winter.

“That is why, in the shorter term, we are making available support services in terms of energy payment bonuses for families.

“Of course I understand the rebate for air-conditioning that can replace woodfired heating is an important and a very helpful one that will go some way to supporting a lot of people in her community to be able to seek heat as an alternative to firewood.

“There is a lot more to be done, and I am absolutely very prepared to sit down with the member for Shepparton to work through alternative options to help her community,” the minister said.

Ms Sheed told the Minister that in “discussions with many people across the community who rely on firewood collection, they call for the return of a permit system.

“They are aware of illegal removal of wood from the forests on a regular basis and they believe that the permit system would enable Parks Victoria to be able to enforce the law and thereby leave more wood for these vulnerable families in our community. So, Minister, will you reintroduce a permit system for firewood collection across Victoria?”

The minister responded by saying: “This is an important and very sore point amongst a lot of local communities right across regional Victoria.

“Can I remind everyone that we did have a very well-functioning domestic firewood permit system on public lands up until about September 2011 when it was removed by those opposite.

“That caused a lot of illegal take and an even greater diminution of firewood collection from these areas right across the state.

“I am absolutely committed to working through this issue. My department is developing options for this very matter, and I will be very happy to have an offline conversation with the member for Shepparton — always happy to have these matters discussed in Parliament of course, but offline to go further into what is possible for us in terms of the reintroduction of a permit system.”

 

ENDS

Media contact

Leanne Raditsas 0422 211 774│leanne.raditsas@parliament.vic.gov.au

Concern over MDB Plan as Final Stages on the Horizon

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Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed, together with co-chair David McKenzie and other GMID Water Leadership members had the opportunity to meet with Sir Angus Houston when he visited the region this week.

“We were able to articulate the challenges for our region as we near the final years of the rollout of the Murray Darling Basin plan. Our advocacy was strong,” Ms Sheed said.

Mr McKenzie said that attendees were confused by the response to the presentations by Sir Angus.

“He pointed out that the MDBA does not have a seat at the table at the Ministerial Council, or indeed on the Basin Officers Committee. His view seemed to be that the authority was there simply to facilitate the plan,” Mr McKenzie said.

“We have always considered that the authority has the capacity to review, do further modelling and advise government on important issues associated with the rollout of the plan, including the many recommendations from the numerous reports that have been undertaken over recent years,” he continued.

“So many groups in our region have actively attended consultations and meetings over the years in good faith to provide their views and express their concerns on the basis that they would be heard and have some impact on the direction of the plan,” Ms Sheed  said.

“As a community we are now left wondering how we can navigate a landscape of blame shifting that occurs between the federal government, the state governments and the MDBA who are the parties responsible for every aspect of the rollout of the Murray Darling Basin Plan,” Ms Sheed said.

Other comments:

“It appears no one has the appetite to address the fact that there are only three years left before 2024 and that the water recovery required by then will not be achieved. Now more than ever we need strong leadership that recognises the need for flexibility.

What will happen to our region when the buybacks start?  We have promises of no more buybacks but the federal government lacks the grit to change the legislation to ensure this,” Ms Sheed said.

We remain very vulnerable”.

 

ENDS

Media contact

Leanne Raditsas 03 5831 6944│leanne.raditsas@parliament.vic.gov.au

Sheed calls for government support to tackle school bullying and violence

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Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has called on the state government to provide Greater Shepparton Secondary College with the resources it needs to address escalating bullying and violence at the school.

Ms Sheed told Education Minister The Hon James Merlino MP in Parliament:

“I have been working with parents, police, school representatives, departmental officers and the minister’s office to ensure that supports are available for students, parents and staff.

“[The] government, through the Shepparton Education Plan, has provided $120 million for the new Greater Shepparton Secondary College, an extraordinary investment and opportunity to transform secondary education in our region.”

“The new buildings are well progressed, and the facilities being provided are outstanding.”

“Our children deserve this state-of-the-art, fit-for-purpose campus, but at the moment and during this transition period there is ongoing bullying.”

“There is fear, racial tensions and escalating violence among some students at the school.”

“During last year at the Mooroopna campus those tensions were starting out, they were increasing, and last week they erupted at the Wanganui campus, culminating in really terrible incidents on Friday the 26 February.”

“The violence clearly demonstrated the underlying and unresolved issues that have been festering not only in our secondary colleges but in the broader community for several years.

“As hard as they may try, teachers are under-resourced to deal with these matters. It is time to tackle this head-on; it is time to draw a line in the sand.”

“Any form of violence should not be tolerated in any setting. Greater Shepparton Secondary College needs the additional resources you have recently provided on campus to continue throughout the whole year to tackle this issue.”

“At Parliament this week I was able to secure urgent meetings with both the Minister for Education and the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. We had very productive discussions and I am pleased that there will be supports to assist our community and the school to address many of the long-term and underlying issues.” Ms Sheed said.“Our children need and deserve a system that works with and for them. I look forward to continuing to advocate for the needs of our young people and their families, to ensure our students get the education, resources and facilities they require” Ms Sheed said.

ENDS

Media contact: Leanne Raditsas 0422 211 774│leanne.raditsas@parliament.vic.gov.au

Meeting confirmed with acting water minister in urgent bid to save Greens Lake

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Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed is set to meet with the Acting Water Minister the Honourable Richard Wynne to urge urgent action to avoid a major fish-kill in Greens Lake.

A meeting has been scheduled for next week and Ms Sheed will share the concerns of local fishing groups and the need for more water to be allocated to the lake with the acting minister.

“Local fishing groups are contacting me regularly updating me on the state of the lake and their genuine fears of a major fish kill if water is not allocated to the lake quickly,” Ms Sheed said.

“Fishing groups have been told that the Arthur Rylah Institute has been commissioned to investigate the fish numbers and that it is working on the lake this week to determine the water quality, depth and temperature of the lake”, she said.

“It is disappointing that this important recreational facility was not given a water allocation of its own when it was clear that decommissioning Greens Lake as a water storage area would have such a significant impact,” Ms Sheed said.

“Lake Cooper has closed, Waranga Basin does not have free camping facilities and the fact that the facilities at Greens Lake were recently upgraded, together with restocking of fish in recent years, are all strong arguments for Greens Lake be retained as an important recreational, camping and fishing asset for our local community,” she said.

There are important environmental considerations given Greens Lake is a popular sanctuary for waterbirds including pelicans, brolgas, swans and many other bird species.

“The importance of the lake’s recreational values for the local community and visitors deserves recognition,” Ms Sheed said.

“I hope that the Minister will give the issue a full and fair hearing and act immediately after our meeting next week,” Ms Sheed said.

ENDS

Media contact: Jacqui Hawkins | 0403 657 267 | jacqui.hawkins@parliament.vic.gov.au

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Urgent action needed to avoid major fish-kill

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Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has called on the State Government to take urgent action to prevent a looming major fish kill at Greens Lake near Corop in northern Victoria.

Ms Sheed warned the government that Greens Lake is at only 22 per cent water capacity and dropping rapidly. In recent years the lake was restocked with 337,000 Murray cod and golden perch at a cost of about $1.5 million, she said.

Ms Sheed said:

“Recreational fishing organisations and local fishermen who know the lake very well warn that within weeks, and certainly in the event of a long hot spell, evaporation will kill thousands of fish including Murray cod and perch.”

“In recent years Greens Lake has been stocked with 337,000 Murray cod and golden perch, with around $1.5 million of recreational fishing licence restocking revenue invested into the lake,” Ms Sheed said.

In calling on Water Minister The Hon Lisa Neville to take immediate emergency action, Ms Sheed said:

“An allocation of 10 gigalitres annually is needed to allow Greens Lake to remain viable for recreational and environmental purposes and to stop the impending fish kill.

“With water allocations in northern Victoria now at 100 per cent the government must act now.”

Ms Sheed added:

“I, like many, do not want to see our iconic Murray Cod floating on the surface of this lake such as we saw on the Darling River several years ago.

“Greens Lake means a great deal to surrounding communities and has been a real asset, driving tourism, and is host to many other recreational activities which visitors and locals enjoy.”

“The lake needs help urgently if we are to avoid a major fish kill in the near future,” Ms Sheed warned.

ENDS

Media contact

Jacqui Hawkins 0403 657 267│jacqui.hawkins@parliament.vic.gov.au

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Cut the red tape for fruit pickers

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Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has called on the federal government to cut red tape to help ensure workers who travel to the regions to pick fruit don’t lose out on entitlements or get ripped off.

A shortage of up to 26,000 seasonal workers and backpackers, due to COVID-related border closures, has seen fruit rot on the ground.

Governments, state and federal, have tried to help by putting in place schemes to help recruit Australian workers.

“But red tape, especially how the Federal Department of Education, Skills and Employment’s ‘Relocation Assistance To Take Up a Job’ (RATTUAJ) scheme operates, or fails to operate, is costing workers time and money they can’t afford,” Ms Sheed said.

Ms Sheed said she has been contacted by six university students from Melbourne who travelled to Shepparton for work before Christmas.

“They completed their work but were still waiting to be reimbursed for their accommodation under the RATTUAJ program.”

“They were able to find an Airbnb which the six of them shared to reduce their costs,” Ms Sheed wrote in a letter to David Littleproud MP, the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Drought, and Emergency Management.

“They were placed with a contractor through Madec and while they had a number of issues during this time in relation to their experience, the final and most disappointing part of it is that they have still not been reimbursed for their accommodation.”

“Three of them are awaiting payment of their last week of wages from the contractor.”

“The red tape they have encountered throughout this process has been too great. These young men are educated and aware of their rights and will pursue the situation as best they can, but they have expressed to me how incredibly difficult it must be for so many of the workers, many of whom have a poor understanding of the language and are easily taken advantage of.”

In her letter to the Federal Minister, Ms Sheed said Fruit Growers Victoria had provided suggested solutions, including:

  • Cap the accommodation reimbursement at a figure of say $200 per week depending on where they are staying (most are staying on farm or at caravan parks and budget providers which charge between $100-180 per week) and reduce the paperwork receipts that are needed.
  • Have the grower sign off at the end to approve accommodation etc, no need to keep 100’s of receipts, paperwork and go through arduous forms.
  • Through Pick Shepp program Fruit Growers Victoria can verify workers to eliminate paperwork and provide up front reimbursement or a one-off verification at the end.  A lot of these workers do not have funds and are looking for a good opportunity to make some money.
  • Reduce the eligibility to either 2-4-6 weeks and $2k-4k-6k funding, this will provide a better chance of attracting and retaining workers.

In her letter to the Minister, Ms Sheed said:

“Clearly there is much to be done to make the current program work better if it is to attract people to the region to pick fruit. “

“Very few have taken up RATTUAJ and it is not hard to see why given the experience of these young men that I have referred to.”

“I fully support the changes proposed by Fruit Growers Victoria and hope that these suggestions will be taken on board as a matter of urgency.

 

* Madec is a recruitment services provider and approved employer for the Australian Government Seasonal Worker Program

ENDS

Media contact

Jacqui Hawkins 0403 657 267│jacqui.hawkins@parliament.vic.gov.au

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Educational leadership office in Shepparton is a ‘no-brainer’

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Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has called on the state government to open a regional centre for Educational Leadership in Shepparton.

Ms Sheed said opening a regional office of the Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership – which is the professional learning arm of the Victorian Department of Education and Training – would help ensure educational excellence in Shepparton and the whole of the Hume region.

“It would also support the education revolution that is currently happening in Shepparton. While we are seeing an amazing new purpose-built school emerging on the Hawdon Street site we all know that it is what goes on within the classroom that is so very important,” Ms Sheed said.

“For our teachers to be able to access the professional learning that they want in their own community would provide great ongoing support both locally and across the region.”

The state government has indicated it is open to creating a regional arm of the Institute.

“Bastow is a division of the Department’s Schools and  Regional Services Group but has no permanent physical presence outside central Melbourne,” Ms Sheed said.

“A Bastow presence would provide that ongoing impetus and enthusiasm among our teachers from the very earliest stages right through to when children finally finish in year 12 and lift educational standards right across the region.”

“My proposal would integrate perfectly with the State Government’s Budget announcement of $119 million for the construction of the merged four secondary schools to create Greater Shepparton Secondary College at a new purpose-built campus.”

“Locating a regional Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership at the College makes logical, economic and educational sense,” Ms Sheed said.

“Children and teachers across all of Victoria’s regions deserve all the support they can get. The economy and the jobs of the future depend on the best educational outcomes possible.”

“Locating a Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership office in Shepparton is a no-brainer.”

ENDS

Media contact

Jacqui Hawkins 0403 657 267│jacqui.hawkins@parliament.vic.gov.au

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Bypass business case needs to be released urgently

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Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has called on the state government to urgently release the business case for the proposed Shepparton bypass so progress can be made a major transport solution that is of vital importance to the economy and road safety.

In urging Minister for Transport Infrastructure, the Hon Jacinta Allan MP to release of the business case, Ms Sheed told parliament this week:

“The Shepparton bypass is an important safety and freight project for our region, allowing for a second river crossing of the Goulburn River north of Shepparton.

“It will be a critical part of the freight supply chain network locally and as part of the national highway system, removing much heavy traffic from the central business districts of Shepparton and Mooroopna.”

Ms Sheed said the business case was long overdue.

“In the 2017–18 Victorian state budget, $10.2 million was allocated to develop a business case and to do other preparatory works.”

“I was pleased, along with the community, with this investment towards what will address some of the safety concerns for both Mooroopna and Shepparton in particular, as there is a very high volume of traffic that passes down the main streets of both cities.”

Ms Sheed told Parliament progress on the Shepparton bypass is vital for local industries, jobs and the health and safety of residents of Shepparton and Mooroopna.

“Around 25 per cent of all trucks registered in Victoria are from the Goulburn Valley, and a quarter of the value of the state’s agriculture produce comes from the region.”

“Dairy is a key industry. Crops grown include apples, pears, peaches and tomatoes. Victoria is Australia’s largest pear producer, and almost all of them are grown in the Goulburn Valley. There is processing of that fruit there also, and we have a large factory, SPC, that everyone will know of.”

Ms Sheed said the need to address the issue of heavy traffic in populated areas has become urgent, but progress has been slow, despite a $208 million commitment by the Federal Government before the last federal election.

“On 13 November 2019, the minister acknowledged that while the business case was to be ready by the end of that year, it was apparent that a significant amount of additional work was required — such as environmental and cultural heritage issues.

“In 2020 she indicated that the business case would be ready by the end of that year. I believe it is now complete, that it has been done, and we need to see it.”

“Some federal funding has already been put on the table for this project — committed immediately prior to the last federal election, $208 million.”

“Back in November the minister indicated that she believed the cost of this project would be much greater and that federal funding indeed would have to be contributed to it at a much greater amount than that already on the table.”

With a federal election likely later this year it is important that we understand the business case and the associated costs particularly as the federal government will need to contribute 80% of the capital cost.

Ms Sheed said the Shepparton and Mooroopna communities had done everything asked of them and it is time for the state government to step up.

“My community has done everything asked of it to procure the funding for this bypass, including breaking down what is a very major project into much smaller, manageable parts.

“It is very important that we as a community understand what is involved in achieving the transport outcomes we need and what the cost will be. The business case will help to inform us, and I call on the minister to release it.”

ENDS

Media contact
Jacqui Hawkins 0403 657 267│jacqui.hawkins@parliament.vic.gov.au

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