MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
The Australian Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Kathy Sullivan M.P., today commissioned a new water treatment plant to service the town of Bac Giang. The plant is part of a major upgrading of the town's water supply, which is designed to benefit about 88,000 people in and around Bac Giang.
Mrs Sullivan assists the Australian Foreign Minister in managing the Australian overseas development cooperation program. She is currently visiting Vietnam to commemorate the 25th anniversary of bilateral relations and to visit a number of Australian aid projects.
'The benefits of providing clean running water are immeasurable,' Mrs Sullivan said.
'Five provincial towns are participating in the Australia-Vietnam Water Supply Project. This is the first to commission a water treatment plant and I congratulate the authorities and people of Bac Giang on this achievement.'
The project is working in the towns of Bac Ninh and Bac Giang in the north, Ha Tinh in a central province, and Tra Vinh and Vinh Long in the south of the country. Overall, more than 400,000 people in and around the five towns will benefit from having access to clean running water.
Mrs Sullivan said the project illustrated the results of close cooperation between the Governments and people of Australia and Vietnam.
'Australia is providing about AUD50 million towards the Provincial Water Supply Project through AusAID (the Australian Agency for International Development),' Mrs Sullivan said.
'I also acknowledge the AUD20 million contribution by the Government of Vietnam and provincial and town authorities.
'When I observe the tangible results of our cooperation - such as the opening of the water treatment plant today - and consider the lasting benefits for the people in all five towns, I believe it is money well spent.'
Mrs Sullivan said that the project is considered a model for other water supply projects because it was about more than simply designing and building a system of plants and pipes.
'The project will also strengthen the skills of key staff to plan, operate and maintain water supply systems, and will improve community understanding of the linkages between water, sanitation and good health.'
Mrs Sullivan said the project addresses two of the priority sectors in Australia's overseas aid program: health and infrastructure. It is the second largest project in Australia's AUD66 million per year development cooperation program with Vietnam.
BAC GIANG
Media contacts:
Judi Nixon (Mrs Sullivan's office) 07 5591 1011/0411 287 258
Geoff Adlide (AusAID, Canberra) 02 6206 4967/0417 683 126