Victoria’s oldest and last grower-elected irrigation authority was formally wound up and merged with rival Lower Murray Water at a minute past midnight this morning, ending its 112 years of existence.

On the advice of the trust’s legal counsel, chairman Jim Belbin and deputy chairman Frank Dimasi decided to withdraw their planned Victorian Supreme Court injunction against Water Minister Tim Holding to prevent the merger.

“It’s a terrible day,” Mr Belbin told Sunraysia Daily.

Mr Belbin said the injunction application had been withdrawn after Mr Holding undertook to consider all documents presented to him by FMIT, and all other relevant matters, including the independent analysis of the trust’s finances by accounting firm WHK Horvath.

For more of this story, purchase your copy of Wednesday's Sunraysia Daily 20/08/2008.