Rural drainage rates to be decided before July 1

28/4/93

Water Resources Minister Paul Omodei has confirmed that the issue of rural drainage rates will be decided before July 1, when rates are normally raised.

Mr Omodei said the Coalition had made a commitment to abolish country drainage rates and he was working towards that goal.

"The Coalition has been in Government just ten weeks, yet I have already attended a public meeting in Busselton to discuss the issue of drainage rates," he said.

"It is a long-standing problem which the previous Government did little to address, and this has understandably caused anger and frustration amongst local residents."

Mr Omodei said the Government had to look at how the existing drains would be maintained and who would have responsibility for them at the same time as it considered the rates issue.

"Failure to resolve these matters would only ensure more problems in the future," he said.

"A detailed statement will be made after the matter has gone before Cabinet."

Media contact: Amanda O'Brien (09) 222 9595