Water plans backdown

Barwon-Darling Water spokesman Ian Cole on a flooded Darling River at Bourke. Photo TWH

Farmers’ concerns about water security have been alleviated by new changes to water sharing plans for six NSW rivers.

Barwon-Darling Water spokesman Ian Cole said that revised wetland maps released by the state government last week were a relief for farmers concerned that they were being unfairly targeted.

Mr Cole said that the proposed changes appeared to unfairly lock away land and water and would have the effect of reducing land values.

“It was obvious that there was no ground truthing done to get this right, and farmers weren’t going to stay silent as land was incorrectly marked as wetlands and rules changed to reduce water access,” Mr Cole said.

“Irrigation lagoons and land that had been cultivated for decades were being marked on maps as wetlands, and it’s good to see a realistic assessment of these new plans.”

Water sharing plans for the Barwon-Darling, Gwydir, Namoi-Peel, Macquarie-Bogan, Lachlan, and Murrumbidgee are among those being considered for new wetland maps.

Mr Cole said that many farmers held grave concerns around the proposed water rules.

“We can’t afford to get these plans wrong, so it’s important to take the time to consult with farming stakeholders to get them right,” Mr Cole said.

“These draft plans are proposing sweeping changes to how farmers trade, access and extract water – changes that could strip farms of water needed for essential food and fibre production and leave us reliant on imports.

“Working with farmers will be the key to ensuring these plans don’t take away our precious water and ability to feed the nation.”

Last week the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) issued a statement saying that it has ‘listened carefully to community feedback on the revised wetland mapping in six water sharing plans and had finalised an approach to ensure maps are accurate and fit-for-purpose’. […]

Read more local news in the printed edition of The Western Herald.

To subscribe call (02) 6872 2333 today and receive The Western Herald in your letterbox next week!