Vic Environment and Climate Change Minister, Gavin Jennings, says the water, released through the Living Murray program, will flow into Lindsay and Wallpolla Islands, Gunbower Forest and Barmah Forest prior to summer this year and during autumn 2010.

“The Victorian Government is taking action to protect the iconic river red gums along the Murray River and the unique wetlands that have been struggling with the effects of drought and climate change,” Mr Jennings says.

“We are working with the Australian, New South Wales, South Australian and Australian Capital Territory Governments through the Living Murray program to restore life into the Murray River.

“Delivering environmental water is part of our broader commitment to protecting river red gums. This month our Government introduced legislation to create four new national parks and other park areas to protect more than 140,000 hectares of river red gum habitat along Victoria’s Murray River Corridor.

“It is landmark legislation that sadly the Victorian opposition has chosen to vote against, ending 40 years of bipartisan support for proposals generated by the Victorian Environment Assessment Council and its predecessor, the Land Conservation Council.”

Australian Government Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, says the return of water to river and wetlands is the key to meeting the challenges posed by climate change in the Murray-Darling Basin.

“The Federal Government is taking action to meet these challenges. We have taken over Basin-wide planning and will put a new, lower, scientifically-based limit on water use in the Basin for the first time ever,” Senator Wong said.

“We have committed more than $4 billion so far to upgrade and modernise water and irrigation infrastructure in the Basin to help our farmers and regional communities and to protect food security.

“And we are buying back water to help restore health to our rivers.”

The Living Murray program is a joint initiative funded by the Victorian, New South Wales, Victorian, South Australian, Australian Capital Territory and Commonwealth Governments.