Farmer and irrigator groups are pleading for help to send a clear message to the Murray Darling Basin Authority that enough is enough, by lodging a submission on water buybacks before tomorrow’s deadline.
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NSW Farmers president Derek Schoen said further water recovery would cost 450 jobs in the northern basin – and not just in agriculture – on top of the “widespread devastation of regional communities” from previous buybacks.
Gwydir Valley Irrigators Association executive officer Zara Lowien said it was important for as many people as possible to make their voice heard on this important issue, and Auscott’s Gwydir Valley operations manager Sean Boland said it was “a quick and easy process”.
After its review of the northern basin late last year, the MDBA indicated it would recommend that the federal government remove further water out of production in the Northern Murray Darling Basin in order to meet the river system’s environmental needs.
As part of the basin plan, 278GL of water has already been taken from agricultural production across northern communities to date.
At the end of 2016, the MDBA released its draft proposal to reduce the total volume of planned recovery from 390GL to 320GL, which means a further 42GL still to be recovered.
More than 20 attendees at the GVIA grower-led irrigation research field day, held at Moree on February 8, lodged a written submission to the MDBA at a booth provided by the National Farmers’ Federation, Cotton Australia and GVIA.
Mr Boland lodged a submission on the day and urged people in the wider community to follow suit.
“We in the Gwydir know the impact that removing water has; we’re dealing with the consequences of the over-recovery of water for the environment in our region as we speak,” he said.
“It’s important that not only irrigators submit, as the real impact is felt by the broader community with the flow-on effect of less production.”
Mr Schoen said no more water should be taken from production across the northern basin, because not only would it cost jobs, but also it was “not the answer to improving our rivers”.
"This is a good opportunity for all members of affected communities to send a clear message to the MDBA that our regional communities have had enough,” he said.
“Water recovery must stop. The 278GL of water already recovered from agricultural production in the northern basin has caused widespread devastation of regional communities.
“Regardless of whether you’re a grazier, irrigator, stock and domestic water user, or local business owner, we can all agree that further removing water from either productive use or effective environmental use, will be a disaster.
“The MDBA's plan to take another 42GL will cause the loss of around 450 jobs across northern basin communities.
“The approach of just adding water is not the answer to improving our rivers.
“The government needs to focus on complementary, non-flow measures that respond to the needs of the basin’s ecosystems, such as carp control and addressing cold water pollution.”
- Submissions to the MDBA close tomorrow. To lodge a submission, visit www.farmers.org.au/morethanflow