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Should Brumby sign?

New Victorian Premier John Brumby says he won't bow to pressure to sign onto a national water plan that doesn't meet his State's demands. Steve Bracks last week resigned from the Premier's post just days after vowing to fight a proposed takeover of the Murray-Darling Basin take the Commonwealth even if it meant going to the High Court. However soon after being sworn in as Mr Bracks replacement, Mr Brumby told the metropolitan media he would not be swaying from his predecessor's line and described the Commonwealth plan as "ill-conceived".

Federal Minister for Water Resources Malcom Turnbull and Victorian Opposition leader Ted Baillieu have both called on Mr Brumby to sign up.

Should Mr Brumby sign a plan that excludes the key aspects Victoria has been pushing for?

Posted By: Sally White on 1/08/2007 12:21:03 PM | Comments (7)

Comments

Date: Newest first | Oldest first

With respect to the proposal to drain the Kangaloon aquifers on the Southern Highlands of New South Wales to augment Sydney's water supplies in drought times, scant regard by either the State or Federal governments is being given to the principles 'talked' about in the National Water Initiative (NWI) .

Based upon independent hydrological opinion, on 23rd June 2007, on behalf of NSW Farmers Association, I lodged a formal complaint with the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Water Resources that the Kangaloon proposal is in breach of the NWI. This has yet to be formally acknowledged.

Through the Upper Nepean Groundwater Community Reference Group on which I represent the Association, I have made a formal complaint to the NSW State Sydney Catchment Authority that the Kangaloon bore field proposal is in breach of the NWI.

It remains to be seen whether the NWI has any teeth when it comes to protecting the reasonable water needs of agriculture in this area. To date, one could be forgiven for thinking that NWI is the name of an exotic new type of dahlia.

Politics (and the interplay of Federal and State government interests) are having a huge part to play in the considerations that will likely govern the outcome of the Kangaloon bore field proposal. It is proving very hard, if not impossible, to obtain any proper consideration of the need to have permanent and reasonable formal water sharing arrangements with agriculture in the whole scheme of things.

Australia-wide, farmers are (or will become) a voice in the wilderness when city voters' water needs are concerned. That is why, looking forward, it is in my opinion essential that Australia's water resources are managed and controlled nationally by a non-political, non-privatised statutory authority based upon a 'Reserve Bank' type model.

Jonathan Bell OAM

Chairman, NSW Farmers Association Sydney Water Catchment Taskforce.

Posted by Jonathan Bell on 3/08/2007 3:42:40 PM

Great article. However you have forgotten to mention the NSW irrigators on the other side of the River Murray.

We have had zero allocation last year and it will be reapeated this year.

Have a chat to the MIL (Murray Irrigation Limited). They will tell you just how critical the situation is.

Come and see it for yourself and talk to the grass root farmers in the area.

What is frustrating is to see SA being allocated 13%. Their dairy cows will survive.

There is an urgent neeed for cooperation and understanding from all users of the MDB.

Posted by Dairyfarmer on 3/08/2007 4:11:45 PM

With Mr Bracks now departed, perhaps Simon Ramsey (VFF) might just listen to the Farmers he is supposed to be acting for & on behalf.

Might just be the right time for Simon to take his leave and depart also.

Posted by Billy on 3/08/2007 5:46:44 PM

Thank goodness common sense is finally prevailing.

We need a water summit prior to the Federal election and this should be represented by community members and not government controlled with a view to privatisation.

Our farmers are suffering because of the corporatisation of Snowy Hydro and the bloke at the helm seems to squander our water.

He gets it for nothing to make energy and simply wants that - to make money.

If we charged him to use our water he would not be able to survive in the marketplace.

I would like to see a regional get together of farmers and other users of the Snowy Scheme and MDB water and make it clear that it is our water.

I am not happy with the current control of our water by politicians eager to win votes and seats and by a bank that wants to make a fortune from our asset.

It is our water, not the Macquarie Bank's for the having.

Posted by Andrew on 6/08/2007 3:56:06 PM

Water resources are under threat, I think, as much from wrong policy as from over allocation.

Water is too precious to risk it being a commodity for sale to anyone, anywhere.

Posted by Elly on 6/08/2007 6:48:45 PM

Well done Simon Ramsey (VFF), you have had your "two bob each way", having supported a farmers march on one water issue, and holding up a national water approach to assist all Australians (farmers or not) on the other hand. Haven't you got a replacement that can 'lead' the Victorian Farmers.

Posted by Billy on 10/08/2007 6:14:38 PM

It seems to me the other area not covered in these talks is farmers who have industry best practises that use the least water due to land managment differences, perhaps these should be reviewed and thier knowledge accessed and rewarded.

An example is an organic-biodynamic dairy farmer I visited who waters only by irrigation every 2-4 weeks as compared with his conventional dairy neighbours who water every 7-10 days.

It would seem these potential wastage areas could also be addressed in these allocation issues rather than blanket handling of the water rights.

Posted by sam on 13/08/2007 10:19:10 PM

With the Murray Darling Basin facing unprecedented water shortages due to the on-going drought, FarmOnline wants to know your thoughts on how the problem should be fixed.