Restrictions Applied at the Worst Time

ON July 1 as local farmers endure one of the worst droughts in living memory they will have new red tape to add to their hardship as irrigation become more restricted.

Currently local farmers can draw water from rivers when they are at seven megalitres, but in July they will only be able to draw water when the rivers are at 12 megalitres.

Richard Bell speaking with John Preston about the irrigation restrictions.

Richard Bell, whose property lies on the Hunter River above Glenbawn Dam said it was nonsensical to apply water restrictions on farmers during a drought.

“The Dam is still full so what are they going to do with the extra five megalitres they are taking from us?” questioned Mr Bell.

“We can’t take from the river during high flow and soon can’t take it now when we are in a drought and it is below 12 megalitres,” he said.

“I haven’t seen a good flood down this river for 14 years and we just don’t get enough to have restrictions on a 12 megalitres,” he said.

“There are plenty of farmers with irrigators in around here that will now just be expensive sculptures,” he said.

“After the last few storms we got some water in the Hunter that we can use, but as soon as it is under twelve megs we won’t be able to access it, whereas we have been able to use it down to seven megs,” he said.

“The Dam is close to 80 percent full, so the Dam doesn’t need more water, realistically keeping it at seven megs would work for everyone,” Richard Bell said.

John Preston, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers candidate for Upper Hunter visited Mr Bell’s property to discuss the issue and said government process was no longer supporting farmers and is now hindering farming.

A paddock on Richard Bell’s property which fronts onto the Hunter River, but probably won’t be able to be irrigated due to the new restrictions.

“The management of farming and agriculture from government is now driven by people with MBA’s and management ideas and concepts that are far removed from the reality of farming and they wouldn’t know preferred stock from live stock” said Mr Preston.

“Farmers know what they are doing, they don’t need a consultant sent in,” he said.

“They need to be left alone on things they do know what they are doing and to be given assistance where they need, such as in this drought,” John Preston said.