Darren Chester MP

June 24, 2010

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester is continuing to urge the State and Federal Governments to provide funding for additional research into the environmental impacts of European Green Shore Crabs in the Gippsland Lakes.

Mr Chester recently wrote to the Prime Minister and Premier seeking their support for an independent analysis into the negative environmental impacts the crabs are having on the Ramsar listed wetlands.

In response to Mr Chester, the Prime Minister’s office has indicated that the Australian Government is currently working with the states and the Northern Territory Government to develop a control plan for a number of pest species, including the European Green Shore Crab.

May 5, 2010

The environmental and infrastructure needs of the Gippsland Lakes were ignored in yesterday’s State Budget according to The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester.

Mr Chester said the Brumby Labor Government has displayed its complete lack of interest in maintaining and enhancing the Gippsland Lakes as the region’s main tourism icon.

“After slashing funding for the Gippsland Lakes Taskforce in last year’s Budget the Brumby Government has continued with its appalling neglect of practical environmental projects and construction of new facilities to cater for the boating community,” Mr Chester said.

February 22, 2010

The State Government has been accused of neglecting the need for investment in recreational boating facilities on the Gippsland Lakes according to The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester.

Mr Chester has told Federal Parliament that infrastructure to cater to the increasing popularity of the Gippsland Lakes has largely been ignored by the State Government in the same way that it was ignoring environmental issues in the catchment.

“The State Government has dropped the ball in relation to the future management of the Gippsland Lakes in terms of both its environmental management and its infrastructure,” Mr Chester told Parliament.

February 15, 2010

The State and Federal Governments are being urged to fund additional research and develop control strategies to overcome a plague of crabs which is invading the Gippsland Lakes.

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said the European Green Shore Crab was recognised as an invasive and noxious species which could have severe impacts on the Gippsland Lakes commercial fishing industry, along with recreational angling and the tourism sector.

“The crabs are regarded as a serious threat to the environment and they are officially recognised as ‘noxious’ in several states including New South Wales and South Australia,” Mr Chester said.

January 11, 2009

Gippslanders are furious that the State Water Minister has flagged the possibility of easing water restrictions on Melburnians in 2010 whilst compromising the health of the Gippsland Lakes.

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester and State Member for Morwell Russell Northe have both expressed their dismay at the possibility of water restrictions in Melbourne easing in light of proposed  State Government plans to divert another 10 billion litres of water from the Thomson River to Melbourne.

Mr Chester, a strong campaigner against the water diversion, said the State Labor Government is ignoring the calls from Gippslanders to stop the move.

December 3, 2009

The Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has not ruled out taking action to prevent the State Government from diverting another 10 billion litres of water from the Thomson River to Melbourne.

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has been urging Mr Garrett to intervene in the issue to protect the Ramsar listed wetlands of the Gippsland Lakes and any endangered fish species, including the grayling.

Mr Garrett has written to Mr Chester and indicated that his Department was “actively investigating the matter in relation to the requirements of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999”.

October 21, 2009

The Federal Environment Minister has been called on to intervene under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and stop the transfer of more water from Gippsland to Melbourne.

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester stressed the importance of the issue in Federal Parliament, when he called on Environment Minister Peter Garrett to use his powers to protect the Gippsland Lakes for future generations.

Mr Chester is mounting a ‘Save the Gippsland Lakes’ campaign after the State Labor Government announced it would take an additional 10 billion litres of water per year from the Thomson River to water Melbourne’s gardens.

October 6, 2009

Pressure is growing on the Federal Minister for Environment to take action that would over-rule the State Government’s decision to take an additional 10 billion litres of water from the Thomson River to Melbourne.

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester says the Federal Minister has the authority to investigate the decision in order to protect Ramsar listed wetlands and any endangered species such as the Grayling.

Mr Chester has written to the Federal Minister to highlight a section of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)  which states that  a person must not take an action that has, will have or is likely to have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance, without the approval of the Commonwealth Environment Minister.

September 28, 2009

The National Member for Gippsland Darren Chester is stepping up the campaign to protect Gippsland’s water and retain environmental flows for the Gippsland Lakes.

Mr Chester will this week distribute more than 50,000 newsletters encouraging Gippslanders to register their objection to the Labor Government’s controversial decision to take an additional 10 billion litres of water from the Thomson River to divert to Melbourne.

The campaign is in addition to petitions being circulated by The Nationals opposing the loss of Gippsland’s water.  Petitions can be downloaded from Mr Chester’s website at www.darrenchester.com and are available at the offices of Mr Chester at 36 Macarthur Street Sale or 126 Franklin Street Traralgon, Russell Northe, Peter Hall, or Peter Ryan.

September 10, 2009

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester is calling for Federal Government intervention to stop the State Labor Government taking another 10 billion litres of water from the Thomson River to Melbourne.

Mr Chester is also calling on Gippslanders to sign a petition to highlight objections to losing more water to Melbourne.

Mr Chester said taking another 10 billion litres of water could have disastrous impacts on the environmental health of the Gippsland Lakes.