Unpopular View #2 - Brumbys Pipeline

[misterforgetful1]

Of course the huge tanks that sit beside warehouses and retail outlets could be plumbed to the everyday water used in these centres, but unfortunately the water that collects on these massive expanses of roofing goes straight into the storm water system. Reason - the tanks are simply there to save these Co's from exhorbitant water rates because of the diameter of their sprinkler system pipes.

ie: unless there is a fire, there will never be a single drop of water used in these huge tanks

[TheStarSpark]

I must say, this was helpful. I've only recently turned 18, and acquired the right to vote. So I haven't really been paying attention to politics, because every time I did in the past it just made me pissed off because there was nothing i could do about that would make a difference.

Anyway, this has helped me a little bit on my decision on whom to vote for. Is there any other advice you can give me? Thanks.

[kcgan1959]

Water savings from modernising the irrigation system have to be verified. Melbourne will only get 1/3 of the verified savings despite paying 75% of the cost of the scheme either directly or through city taxpayers. Is that fair enough? Even if there are no savings the pipe can be filled if the Govt allows Melb to buy water on the market. It'll be a trickle of water compared to irrigation needs but a river of gold back to farmers? Stupid?

[atg3144]

G'day Topher - I've seen a few of yur videos - very impressive and well presented.

I have one issue with this one about the Pipeline. Water can be saved by better managing the flows in channels. The excess water sent to channels currently, ends up as ground water - raising the water table and in creasing salinity, not in the river where we'd like it to be. Reducing the water sent to channels for irrigation is a real saving. Otherwise this is good.

Regards

ATG3145

[BigTrevAus]

Well done Topher, I am a long time Labor voter and I live in Shepparton and I refuse to support this Government anymore because f this goddam stupid pipeline.

You should go on to mention of the miminal water that is really going dwon for enviromental flows.

[EndorphinsRUS]

Topher for Environment Minister!

[LRACguitarlab]

HEY TOPHER - TRY AND GET ON abc's q&a get this out there!

you can send video questions etc etc or go in person.

also send it to those horrible current affair shows etc etc...

[conradleviston]

Dude, you totally missed the point on the water tanks. It doesn't take as long as you might think to empty a tank, so you have full tanks over winter, and empty ones over summer. I'm not saying water tanks are bad, it's just they don't work ideally which is the point Tim Holding was trying to make.

[TophersUnpopularView]

Thanks for the comment conradleviston.

No I haven't missed the point with on the water tanks. I had to abbreviated my answer, so that it fit within the constraints of a youtube video. Let me explain my reasoning more fully here.

A house with 4 people using 150 litres per day would empty a 10,000 litre water tank (the largest that would reasonably fit on a typical suburban house-and-land block) in less than two and a half weeks without rain, which as you point out is not long... (to be cont)

[TophersUnpopularView]

... so therefore the house would still need to be connected to mains water, because we regularly have dry spells much longer than 2.5 weeks.

But imagine if a significant percentage of Melbourne's houses (and industry for that matter) stopped using grid water for say, a total of 15 weeks during the year. (assuming a cumulative total of 6 tank-filling rains per year) the grid load of those houses would be reduced by more than 25%.

Household tanks work, but only as a supplimentary measure...TBC

[TophersUnpopularView]

... but isn't EVERYTHING we do to provide more water a supplimentary measure? New dams or Desal plants are not designed to render everything else obsolete, simply to provide more resources in ADDITION.

THIS is the point with water tanks, and THIS is why it is Tim Holding who missed the point with his comment.

That said, the $ per litre from household water tanks is high, and so I maintain that engineering solutions such as dams or the Trans Tasman Pipe (see Unpopular View #3) are better.

[conradleviston]

@TophersUnpopularView I agree with most of what you are saying here, but find it hard to reconcile with what you said in the video.

[TophersUnpopularView]

Great!

Lets go back to the video: I quote Tim Holding's comment that water tanks are of limited use because they tend to fill in winter when we don't need the water (paraphrased). My response? 'I thought that was the point' [of water tanks].

Water tanks do exactly the same thing as dams. They catch rain when it falls so its there for us to use rather than running out to sea. The end result is that every litre of water...TBC

[TophersUnpopularView]

...we use from a tank is a litre we DIDN'T use from a dam, meaning that our dams stay a little fuller for a little longer.

So the point of tanks is to do exactly what Tim Holding said was the problem with them. They catch water when it rains, so we can use it later.

I hope that reconciles my comments above with my argument in the video.

All the best!

[kadaitcha72]

@conradleviston well buy a bigger tank, what are you talking about??? Tim Holding is a complete clown .did you see how they went in the election?? Labor 8 years to DECIDE what to do about the water problem.

[sebbbo77]

All they do is rubber stamp. I know because I worked as a town planner and all I can say is that the whole government (local and state) is dedicated to approving everything.If someone shows cash, they get to build it- hence the slogan of the government - "Building Victoria". Its not about sustainability. Its not about protecting the environment - it is about CREATING JOBS for victorians - thats why they got a footy player to be the minister of planning - to be a TEAM PLAYER - no critics allowed.

[tuspeedsales]

This pipeline was always going to go ahead. Election promises or not the decision and planning for this was made well before Brumby fell into the leadership role. It always amazes me though just how effectively this government squanders copious amounts of money on critically flawed projects.

Nice work Topher - keep them coming!

[MarionBarber06]

Why ? Kept a large amount of work in Australia. There'd be double the uproar if the pipes came from somewhere abroad wouldnt there?

[jandan57]

I've lived in many parts of this amazing land and BOTH city and country folks have contributed to our water plight. This land was not designed for intensive farming practices.

Look up Peter Andrews work if you want to see true sustainable farming in a drought prone land - Natural Sequence farming.

[gobossi]

@jandan57

Yes jandan57, but this country was also not designed to support the millions of people who live here & need to eat. And we also expect our farmers to produce the best quality products in the world, using the most efficent practices as possible to ensure sustainability of our natural resources, Which they do and then tell them that should do more. Given the CHEAPER alternatives to supply H2O to Melb. don't you think it's better for the whole state to look into those alternatives?

[ShinbonerSpirit]

Brilliant...but nothing will happen because governments are is the business of making money. Building the desal plant, although extremely costly, will provide many jobs for many years whereas the dam won't. Its stupid, but that''s the way it is and the Liberals are too dumb to do anything about it

[icantrememberlol]

Steve bracks stated quite clearly that the eastlink would be toll free, then bam they brought in tolls, the people don't care, Liberal are way too stupid to make ANYTHING of these absolute screw ups that the labor government have implemented, and as a result, the people vote for the face they know. Liberal need to wake up, because this government has been ripping off Melbourne for quite a while now. Great videos Topher and i very much agree with you.

[RockManAU]

Well done Topher.

Lots of people seem to think Not voting for Brumby will fix this but I am to believe he is not even elected Now so?????? kindbluey is quite right!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RockManAU]

Water tanks don't lose water to evaporation either and they are cheaper than Desalination which is high energy high pollution offshore money disgraceful idea. Queensland is rushing to build desal plants without a single thought to other cheaper options. Beware the false words of your leaders. Wait as Topher says, Stupid, really really Stupid, yeah!

[janjaso]

recycled water is only functional in a city enviroment. where drain water can be recycled. if you water your plants your not getting that water back. even if it was 100% efficient (ur shit in the toilet = drinkable) it would not solve the drying river problem or any problem linked to the actual SOURCE of water income. that being said it will only slow water, and inevitably you will run out of water if your source does not boost supply. thats why recycled water is stupid and a complete failure.

[janjaso]

airconditioner uses electricity :S unless you mean the evaporative water airconditioners which really arent used in houses

[sarkatha]

Your opinion is well presented, and has the public interest in heart, are you planning on producing another unpopular view presentation?

[TophersUnpopularView]

Absolutely Sarkatha, thanks for asking.

I have 'Unpopular View #3' in pre-production right now, due for release in February 2010.

If you subscribe to my channel then you will be notified when I upload my next video.

Thanks for watching!

[rotinek]

We need to VOTE OUT Brumby. He was never elected in the first place! (think about it). He must be voted out at the next Election over this pipeline. It's a disgrace.

[TophersUnpopularView]

Have a look at my 'Unpopular View #1' for my thoughts on a new dam.

[Alice75GL]

Well done Topher. With irrigation allocations still at zero your message reverberates hard in the country. It is sad that our own Government could do this to country people and the River Murray.

[aussiehelitack888]

Well Done, Its absolutely outrageous that water can be taken from an area which is on level 4 water restrictions and given to an area that is less.

Wait and see water from Southern NSW the stressed Murrumbidgee River will unfortunately be purchased and sent to Melbourne as well, this is so that Melbournes residents can use fresh drinking water to flush their toilets and water their gardens. Melbournes tentacles for resources will reach throughout Victoria and interstate. Wise up people

[BTPossum]

I'm 35 years old, and this pipeline is without question the dumbest government action I have ever seen.

[postaldude66]

i shuddered at the thought of the Mitchell dam as an alternative..I think this pipe will work if rainfall returns to normal levels.

the gamble is that the drought may not end soon enough for it to be effective any time soon. Furthermore.. farmers paying for entire water rights and only getting 35% of them is a terrible situation, and a ridiculous position to put farmers in.

[TophersUnpopularView]

Watch my 'unpopular view #1' for my thoughts on the Mitchell river dam.

[nickmarlow1]

the pipe wont work, it is all about water trading and privatisation, linking melb water market to our system will create a competition for water in which only the rich city water authorities can afford to win.

[Reoh0z]

Thats the sad fact of politics. Its never been about whats good for the country, they have to get elected to do favors for big business.

And there's a legion of uninformed apathetic voters that'll take their pamphlet and fill them out like good little lemmings.

[Schmoodle70]

Is it really true that the proportion of water sent to Melbourne will be a third of (current flows plus evaporation savings)? With no regard for the amount the farmers were meant to get in their allocations? If so, this thing is ridiculous.

[TophersUnpopularView]

It is more complicated than that, but it is an accurate enough simplification for the purposes of an 8 min documentary.

What IS 100% true is that farmers will be paying for water they are NOT GETTING at EXACTLY the same time as water from their dam is being SOLD (for a SECOND TIME) down here in Melbourne.

I'd like to see Telstra try to pull a stunt like that and see the public outrage they would cause.

[pogasauras]

Well done Topher! I am in SA, and looking across the border - it doesn't look good. But our government and the feds are doing their best to wreck the river aswel.

[WNTW3564]

Great stuff, you have hit the nail on the head as far as the pipe line goes and the issued of the people that depend on the water in the Goulburn. Some may not know but the towns along the goulburn are on stage 1 water restrictions so that Brumby can take our water.

[PBS1947]

Where do you think most of Victoria's vegies now come from? They come from Lindenow, the water is provided by the Mitchell River. Queensland has been sitting on reserves of water for the sake of thirsty cotton crops. Most of Victoria's water problems are caused by Queensland's greedy cotton farmers. STOP POLITICS and move your efforts to the release of water into the Murray-Darling system, this is more of a Federal problem. The answer is definitely not to ecologically stuff the Mitchell by dams.

[amrai2]

Well done. We need more episodes of the unpopular view. For a start there is the dumb desalination plant. Then there is the Melbourne Water waterways tax- where large areas of rural Victoria were declared part of the "Metropolis" of Melbourne. Then there is the GAIC - another tax on rural landowners ($95,000 per hectare!!) Don;t think this lot likes rural folk!

[nickmarlow1]

Reducing Queenslands cotton growing would not have much effect on Victoria, as the water would simply not make it down to Victoria. The losses in the river system are too high

[irelands280]

Please do something on the Bradfiel Scheme Topher.

Full marks to you keep up the good work. Why dont they build dams beside the rivers and keep them navigable for tourist boating would be nice to go from Victoria to Queensland by barge and there would be millions of tourists that would like the experience too.

[spikeau2]

The fact is that many cities use recycled water. At least ten cities along the Missippi re-use the same water molecules.

The fact is that Melbourne's water comes from storage complete with bird, fish faeces (where do ducks crap?) and protozoa such as Giardia. It gets cleaned to our high standards for delivery. Recycled sewage can be too.

[haysie68]

Great Topher, not a greenie, but as long as my ass points to the ground. This Brumby government will never be re-elected.

[MRMILO57]

You people that are against the pipeline are fighting a losing battle.

An I know for fact, a large percentage of you are greenies and back by green funding.

The harsh truth is Victoria's population is growing, you can scream and shout all you want, but 98% of the population is not listening, they have there own worries.

Shame on you people for trying to stop a great city in this country to have water.

[TophersUnpopularView]

Did you pay any attention at all MRMIL?

My point is not that Melbourne shouldn't have water, its that this pipeline WONT BRING ANY!

As for your 'fact', A: Its not a fact, and you are, in fact, wrong. And B: Even if that were true, it does not change the raw facts upon which this video is based. Your attack upon the 'messenger' shows that you cannot refute the message.

[MRMILO57]

TophersUnpopularView

So your saying it will never rain ever again?

A lot of people are very aware of the Australian Greens agenda, there desperation is showing up everywhere.

It's so obvious a percentage of you people against the pipeline are greenies.

It's the same concerning the desal water plant in Gippsland.

Admit it?, you people just don't like progress to benifit the future of this country.

If ya don't like it, get out of Australia an move on.

[TophersUnpopularView]

Watch my 'Unpopular View #1' and then re read your comments. Perhaps it will help you understand how silly you sound right now.

[MRMILO57]

TophersUnpopularView

All I see on the news is you people using the same tactics as the protesters concerning the desal plant, shame on all you people for dragging kids into the protests. Seems to be trend with parents theses days using there kids as shield, that's what you call 'cowards'.

Discusting!

[TophersUnpopularView]

Who is 'you people'?

I am not a Greenie, I do not belong to any political party or lobby group. I simply research facts, use my brain, and call it as I see it.

In my opinion, this pipeline has no basis in fact. It has no justification in economics, environmental science or from any other point of view except politics.

You are free to disagree. Its a free country and being wrong is not a crime. Just dont come running to me when our government has spent all our money for nothing.

[MRMILO57]

TophersUnpopularView... you sure sound like a greenie.

I have no intention of running to you, because all governments know there is always taxes to collect in the future.

[irelands280]

Check out the bradfield scheme thats the answere for Australia to have 200,000,000 poeple and reforrest the contenent

[nickmarlow1]

the REAL fact is that Plug the Pipe is a group being run primarily run by farmers. if you new what you were talking about, you would know that almost all farmers hate radical greenies (not sensible environmentalists, but the radical "Gang-Green" type that wouldnt know shit from clay).

and yes, we all know that these radical types have an agenda, just like the pollies.

Melbourne has plenty of other, far better water supply options that would deliver more water cheaper. This pipe is about money

[irelands280]

Listen to what the man is saying open your mind

[WNTW3564]

It appears that you have no idea on the real issues facing the rural sector of Victoria. Tophers has hit the nail on the head as far as the lack of water in the food bowl and the area of victoria that produce the food that you eat everyday. There are so many different options for those in Melbourne to obtain their water from and we only have Lake Eildon. Do you pay for water that you do not use? I don't think so. I am not a greenie, I have lived in Melbourne and grew up on a farm

[kindbluey]

We Can All Vote Untill The Cows Come Home! The Truth Is,We Must Go Straight To The Idiot Giovernments & Force The Issue,Not Beat Music Around The Bush!!!!!.......STOP TRAFFIC AROUND ALL OF MELBOURNE & SUROUNDING STATES!!!!!!.....

[23coolcat23]

Nice everyone needs to see this

[oZReDneK]

About bloody time, finally some1 else see's what the situation we face up here. No water to take, but they keep building this pipelne. I know who i will be voteing for. Brumby, maybe it should be Gumby.

[BIGDave411]

im one of the farming familys of the mansfield district (Lake eildon is part of our shire) and we are some of the farmers that use the water.

In short i praise your work mate, good to see your sticking it to the man, its not fair, ive always hated brumby and it'd be better off if he pissed off.

As said, send this to as many media outlets as you can mate, this seriously needs to be heard. Thanx again!!!!!!

[Cally460]

Well done.. Now the question is, do Brumby & Holding have the balls to watch the video, and do they have the brain cells to understand it.?

Ben

[racingdork]

bravo... 10/10

[Thommo57]

Please please send this to the media outlets to enable the real people to see what an absolute sham this is from a banker in Shepparton seeing what is really happening to the industries. They would rather inport our foodstuff instead of growing it here. Fresh and knowing where it's come from under strict chemical conditions. Shame, shame, shame. Can't wait for an election!

[979708]

Don't live in Vic, but very Clever vid.

[MikeReid3675]

Great video. Well researched. If you think this is stupid - what about Lake Mokoan. Millions of dollars lost, habitat destroyed to save water for what? There is an altenative the Gov't refuses to consider. Brumby has lost the plot!

[aussiehelitack888]

The truth is out there

[TommyJools]

I love your work...keep it up!!

[stuartliersch]

very, very nice work! you have done your homework, now how to get a few more ppl(the rest of vicotia) to see this!

[itzakos]

Great job topher!!!

[donttouchstevesbeer]

every victorian should watch this! good work

[NoDesal]

Nice work, Topher.

The Brumby government will be going down the gurgler, along with Melbourne's stormwater!

[NoDesal]

Great job, Topher! Can you please look into the recent history of Veolia (parent company of Connex, $?!$?!$?!, likely to win bid to operate Desal plant) Why would the Victorian govt employ this French multinational company, when it is rapidly losing favour throughout Europe and the UK? Even Paris is not going to renew its water management contract with Veolia/Connex! What is going on with this the Brumby Govt? It's going down the gurgler along with its rain water!

[3aw77]

Mr Brumby is on the right side of the left

[HOGESEL37]

Your story is spot on and highlights the spin that this Govt sold this stupid pipeline to the public. With the current rainfall outlook there may be only 75GL left in Eildon next year. What type of Govt would take this from a drought parched area to win an election . Words would not be able to describe them.

[KateSunflowerLove]

Sit Up and Listen Mr Brumby

[3aw77]

5 stars

[AUSTFireme]

Loved it mate.... Look forward to hearing more unpopular views!!

[mattward74]

Excellent mate. Now if you can only come over the border into SA and do a video like this about those "Bloody Victorians Stealing Our Water"!

Only kidding - great stuff. Imagine how we're travelling over here on nearly half Victoria's allocation (35% vs. 18%) ie; not good.

Well done - I've forwarded this link to a heap of mate's who'll also find it funny yet spot on. Unfortunately the water problem is not something that most city people (the voting majority) would understand.

[maslinwilliam]

Strange m8.

[FilmpoetsTV]

Great stuff mate. I and many other Victorians agree with you. It amazes me we can have a dickhead...er leader that we never voted for.

[skeeta1994]

anyone who thinks this pipeline is a good idea should think about whether they would enjoy having a much lower quality and quantity food supply in a few years...

[pollster62]

No doubt where Topher is coming from. A common sense question asking for a common sense answer. Will a pipe line delivering water to the Goulburn Valley deliver more water than a river delivering water to the Goulburn Valley. The answer is yes as there will be virtually no evaporation. I thought the idea of the pipeline was to bring the saved water from the pipeline back to Melbourne. At the end of the day a pipeline will save a lot of water. Perhaps the bigger question is who should receive it?

[Plugger1962]

Well done Chris. very clever. With the expectation of just 19% of normal water allocations available to farmers next year, if the big pumps turn on it will be national disgrace. And to Mckenzie202 - the issue won't go away even if the pipeline is built.

[lipslideproductions]

Great! Stick it to them!

[mckenzie202]

its time plug the pipe got over it the pipe will be finished on time and on budget ready to flow in 2011

[TophersUnpopularView]

I'm not a member of plug the pipe. But it seems to me that a finished pipe is not much good if there is no water to pump. Every litre that flows is a litre stolen from either the environment or our farmers. Every dollar spent is another dollar wasted.

[TophersUnpopularView]

Oh, and you may want to research your 'on budget' claim...

It pays to know what you are talking about in this business. They are more than $150mill over budget and counting...

[WNTW3564]

the pipe may be finished on time but the way it is going there will not be any water to put in it. Obviously you don't eat food or drink milk!

[KalElTheGreat]

"its not growing... MUM!!!"

hahaha... well done chris..

[nickmarlow1]

very good video, however i believe that it would also have been beneficial to discuss the issue's relating to water trading and privatization that are the other main reason why the bastards are proceeding with this bloody pipeline.

[TophersUnpopularView]

Have no fear NickMarlow, Water trading is on my list of issues to tackle. I felt it was a big enough issue to deserve a video of its own.

[nickmarlow1]

sounds good, i will keep a look out for it

[TheFarmerW]

Well done Chris! Heard you on the radio. Have more info on fudged figures on so-called 'savings'. How can we get the message to all Victorians before it is too late!