For Goulburn Valley farmer Russell Pell, the divisive debate about the State Government's plan to upgrade the region's century-old irrigation system is personal.
Mr Pell, a third-generation farmer from Wyuna, on the Goulburn near Shepparton, says the controversial Government scheme provides hope that his son Michael will be able to fulfil his dream and carry on the family tradition.
On Tuesday night in Shepparton, Mr Pell was branded a "sell-out" by a group of angry locals as he walked in to a dinner held to congratulate Premier John Brumby for pursuing the controversial foodbowl modernisation project, which includes a pipeline to pump water from the parched north to Melbourne.
Yesterday, Mr Pell stood beside newly lined irrigation channels just outside town and said he could not understand why the protesters were opposed to the $2 billion upgrade of the leaking, ageing scheme.
"It's pretty basic," he said. "If we don't lift our game in this region and get this scheme up to world's-best practice, we won't exist for too many more years into the future.
"You can't have an irrigation scheme that leaks a third of its water."
Mr Pell, 62, said seeing the improvements already made — plastic lining of open water channels to reduce seepage, and computerised gates on channels to direct water to farms as needed — gladdened his heart.
"This offers us a future," he said. "We could give up and leave. I could leave now.
"But that's not my game — I want to leave something for the next generation."
The Goulburn's irrigation system was a world leader more than half a century ago, but is now "at the bottom of the pile" and in urgent need of an overhaul.
The Government's plan to pump one-third of the saved water to Melbourne via the north-south pipeline has divided Mr Pell's community, but he is prepared to cop the abuse of the anti-pipeline protesters.
When asked about being accused of selling out his region, he said, "My thing is, what are we going to do to ensure we have a future?
"If it means a bit of flak in the meantime, well, so be it."
Mr Pell said it is fair for the Government to take one-third of the saved water to Melbourne, given that the Government (through the taxpayers of Melbourne) is picking up most of the bill for the irrigation upgrade.
"Melbourne is one of the major buyers of our products, and they are short of water," he said.
"We need the money to finance us.
"There is no way we as farmers could have financed what's being done here."
Water Minister Tim Holding, who was pelted with eggs by protesters as he walked in to Tuesday's dinner, yesterday made it clear the Government would not back down.
"The important thing is that governments consult with people, work with people, make decisions that are in the best interests of all Victorians and then press ahead with delivering those projects," Mr Holding said.
"That's what people expect."
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