IRRIGATORS hold deep-seated fears the federal government will use compulsory buybacks to obtain an additional 450 gigalitres of water for the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
The Regional Australia Committee, which member for Riverina Michael McCormack sits on, met with irrigators, the Australian Dairy Industry Council, the National Farmers' Federation and a number of other basin stakeholder groups yesterday to hear their concerns about the impending plan.The additional 450 gigalitres, which Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced would be returned to the basin last month, is close to the capacity of Sydney Harbour.
Buybacks are an inevitable part of the plan, according to Mr McCormack, but any such scheme needs to have a strict cap system enforced.
"Buybacks should not only be capped but the cap should be proportionate to the amount of water already retrieved per catchment area," he said.
"The southern basin has already given up 368 gigalitres, which is considerably higher than other areas within the system, so therefore that should be reflected in any future buyback.
"You can't take buyback off the table altogether but buyback from the Riverina should be minimal compared to buyback in other areas."
The calls come as Katter's Australian Party leader Bob Katter visited Griffith last night to discuss proposed water cuts with the community at the Yoogali Club.
Mr Katter is vehemently opposed to any plan which would see water taken away from farmers and irrigators in the Murray-Darling Basin and accused the government of sacrificing the livelihood of farmers in exchange for the environmentalist vote.
Towns along the Murray and Murrumbidgee rivers would be turned into ghost towns under the proposed returns to the basin, according to Mr Katter.
"It would break your heart to see the rotting orange trees and rotting vines.""In Mildura today I'd say one in 10 farms are gone," he said.
The final plan is expected to be tabled to parliament next week, which is the last sitting week for the year.
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