The association met at Beechworth yesterday to discuss the proposed mega-dam which would hold more than 40 times what it does now.

President and regional manager of the association Bill Gorman said the group — which consists of more than 90 local government municipalities, along with community groups, businesses and individuals — would continue the campaign despite early setbacks.

Victorian member for Murray Valley Ken Jasper attended to urge the association to continue to lobby the State Government.

“Ken’s adamant that he wants us to continue the fight to have Buffalo and William Hovell increased in capacity,” Mr Gorman said.

“To date we haven’t done very well, we’ve been getting a blunt response from the Victorian Government.

“But we consider it so vital for this area that it’s worth pursuing and we’re going to pursue it.”

The association raised the issue of Big Buffalo about six months ago and has so far received universal support from its stakeholders in region one which runs from Tumbarumba to Corowa.

“We’ve had great support for the proposal in the local region,” Mr Gorman said.

“I don’t know of anybody who is not supporting us in the region, only from outside the region and primarily the Victorian Government.

“We’ll take the results of today’s meeting to the national board and they will take it on as well.”

Mr Gorman said Big Buffalo would underpin the water supply in the area and underpin the entire Murray system, giving water authorities an extra reserve and more flexibility when managing the resource.

The Government cites the cap on water storages as the stumbling block to approving the 40-year-old plans to increase Lake Buffalo to a mega-dam.

“And the Government seems to think someone else will miss out on further down the system,” Mr Gorman said.

“But what we say is that if we store it now it will underpin the security up the top end and there will be more there to move down when required.”