WEEKLY TIMES
Lyndal Reading |  October 31, 2012
MURRAY-Darling Basin communities fear they may be decimated if 3200GL is recovered for the environment and flushed down the river.
They fear that the loss of hundreds of gigalitres of irrigators' entitlements may lead to some systems being unviable.
NSW Farmers Association water spokeswoman Helen Dalton said 3200GL was "a ridiculous amount to be flushed down the river".
"It's just a number - there's no environmental watering plan," Ms Dalton said.
"We have to account for our water on farms like we're counting staples in a stapler."
Ms Dalton said she was worried about the continuing effects of losing the water from the system.
"It's quite bizarre because nowhere else in the world would we see the government decommissioning parts of a purpose-built irrigation system," Ms Dalton said. "Our children are going to say 'What were you thinking?' "
National Irrigators Council chief executive Tom Chesson said he doubted that the $200 million for fixing the river constraints would go far.
"There's a new bridge being built near Echuca and I reckon that is going to cost $200 million," Mr Chesson said.
"It's as if the key marginal seats in Adelaide have taken preference over the lives of people in the Basin."
Mr Chesson said loss of water from irrigated agriculture would stymie productivity growth.
"Nothing in life is free. There's always a cost for everything," he said.
Queensland Farmers Federation chief executive Dan Galligan said he expected the greatest target for the increased water reduction, to reach 3200GL in 2024, would occur in southern states.
Mr Galligan said additional water sought by the government must not come at the cost of regional communities.
"Regional communities, in Queensland as much as everywhere, are already doing plenty of heavy lifting when it comes to water reform."
Riverina and Murray Regional Organisation of Councils chairman Cr Terry Hogan said most people did not understand how much water it took to produce food and fibre.
"A basic breakfast of a glass of milk, an egg, two pieces of toast and coffee takes 555 litres of water to produce."