The future management of Mt Buffalo and the development of its facilities must be determined as a matter of urgency, The Nationals Member for Murray Valley, Ken Jasper, said today.

Calling on the State Government to stop procrastinating on the issue of the mountain and the iconic Mt Buffalo Chalet, Mr Jasper said we are now well into the 2008 ski season and there have been no announcements from the State Government on the future of the resort.

Despite the cynics, we have a mountain of snow in the Victorian high country, including Mt Buffalo, and the State Government has surely had enough time to complete its investigations and announce its decision, he said.

Dental services continue to be available under Medicare for people with chronic and complex conditions, The Nationals Member for Murray Valley, Ken Jasper, said today.

Mr Jasper said the Medicare Dental Program, introduced by the Federal Coalition Government in September 2007, provides up to $4250 over two years for patients with chronic and complex health problems, where dental health is a contributing factor.

The Federal Labor Government tried to cancel this program in March 2008, announcing all funding would cease by June 30 2008, but a Coalition motion of disallowance prevented it being scrapped, for at least the next six months.

Unfortunately, many health professionals and patients are unaware the program, which provided 311,943 services from its commencement on November 1 2007 to April 30 2008, is continuing.

Recent comments relating to climate change and the current disastrous state of the Murray Darling Basin do not alter the fact that building of Big Buffalo Dam and the extension of Lake William Hovell must be reconsidered urgently, The Nationals Member for Murray Valley, Ken Jasper, said today.

Mr Jasper said the critical position relating to the availability of water further highlighted the need to extend water storages to collect water in times of high rainfall to underpin the supply of water into the Murray system.

He said he was heartened by the comments by retiring Yarra Valley Water chairman, Alan Cornell, that he ‘believed the ban on new dams was ridiculous and needed revisiting’.

Urgent action is sought from Victorian Transport Minister Lyn Kosky to ensure the Oaklands-Yarrawonga-Benalla rail line is standardised in conjunction with the standardisation program for the Albury-Wodonga to Seymour line, The Nationals Member for Murray Valley, Ken Jasper, said today.

Mr Jasper said a meeting of affected municipalities, grain growers and merchants, called by the Corowa Shire, at Mulwala earlier this week unanimously resolved to meet with the Minister as soon as possible to stress the importance of this line in the movement of grain to Victorian ports.

I am seeking a deputation to meet with Minister Kosky in Melbourne on Thursday, July 24 2008, to present a submission in support of the standardisation of the Oaklands line being implemented simultaneously with the work on the North East line, he said.