Climate change expert questions north-south pipeline

Leading climate change expert Professor Tim Flannery says there is no justification to build a $750 million pipeline to bring water to Melbourne.

Construction has started on the controversial north-south pipeline after the Federal Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, gave the project the go ahead.

The former Australian of the Year says there is no evidence to support taking water from the already stressed Murray-Darling system, to pump to Melbourne.

He says more attention should be given to replacing coal-fired power with cleaner energy, which he says would ultimately yield more water.

"For every megawatt of electricity we generate here in Victoria you use two tonnes of water," he said.

"Why are we dealing with the most antiquated, polluting, coal fired power plants just about on the planet here in Victoria and letting them waste our water and pretending that's not an issue?"

Professor Flannery questions whether the Government commitment to long-term plans for fear of alienating voters.

"It's one of the great problems we face, that Government won't take the sort of decisions that we need," he said.

"[They are] happy to give away taxpayers' money, but regulation or laying out a vision that might say that in 20 years from now we'll be moving onto a new form of energy generation, is not what they're interested in."