The Victorian Parliament has passed legislation to support the State's most significant water reform in 100 years, Minister for Water John Thwaites said recently.

“The Water (Resource Management) Act is a crucial step in implementing the Bracks Government's strategy to secure the State's water supplies - Our Water Our Future,” Mr Thwaites said.

“It supports farmers, provides for long-term water planning and, for the first time in Australia's history, gives the environment a legal right to water.

“The Victorian Farmers' Federation played an important role in shaping the legislation, in particular in securing the Sales Water Deal.

“Under the deal, farmers receive a more secure right to the additional water they receive above their basic entitlement, the environment gets a greater share of available excess water and there is a $100 million package that includes Bracks Government investment in dam safety and irrigation infrastructure.”

“It is an important part of Our Water Our Future, the plan to secure water supplies to protect the environment and the future prosperity of our regions, towns and cities.”

The Water (Resource Management) Act sets up several key initiatives to secure Victoria's water future:

• The Sales Water Deal;

• Creating an Environmental Water Reserve for all rivers and ground water systems to prevent over-allocation of water resources;

• Supporting the introduction of Sustainable Water Strategies - long-term regional plans to supply water for local growth while maintaining the balance of an area's water system;

• Providing greater flexibility to farmers in using water by “unbundling” water entitlements; and

• Establishing a public register of all water use.

Mr Thwaites said the legislation to create the Environmental Water Reserve was an historic achievement for Victoria.

“Victoria is leading the nation in water management and reform - yet the Liberal Party has voted against this legislation and attempted to undermine confidence in rural and regional communities.

“Their stance also leaves their environmental credentials in tatters - they say one thing in the city and another in the bush.”

Mr Thwaites said the initial environmental reserves would recognise existing entitlements, such as irrigators' water rights.

“This means that in some over-allocated systems, the initial reserve may be inadequate to maintain a healthy river or groundwater system,” Mr Thwaites said. “But in each case, the Government will consider whether water allocated for consumptive use needs to be returned to achieve a satisfactory Environmental Water Reserve.” Mr Thwaites said the reserves for all rivers would be set progressively during the development of the State's five regional Sustainable Water Strategies - Central Region, Gippsland, Wimmera Glenelg, Northern and South-West.

The Central Region will be the first strategy developed. A discussion paper has been released for public comment up to 20 December.