16/12/10 Mr.Tony Windsor Chairman Murray Darling Basin Inquiry PO Box 6021 Parliament House Act 2600 Submission No: Date Received:..

Secretary!...... , Dear Sir,

Find enclosed our submission to the Murray Darling Basis inquiry chaired by Mr Tony Windsor.

Trusting we can getter a better out come for the farmers.

Yours Sincerely

John McGrath

CC: Mr Richard Anderson Mr.Anthony Couronpis SASIN INQUIRY

SUBMISSION TO

COMMITTEE SECRETARY

ON REGINAL AUSTRALIA

P O BOX 6021

PARLIAMENT HOUSE

CANBERRA ACT 2600 John McGrath

13/12/2010 The committee Secretary Standing Committee On Reginal Australia PO Box 6012 Parliament House Canberra 2600

Submission on Murray Darling Water Use By John Alexander McGrath Retired Farmer age 76yrs.

Credentials and Experience

Started farming age 20 with borrowed funds clearing forest and scrub land. During 1971 entered and won State competition for farms under $100,000. The judges said the farm was an outstanding example of development in virgin' country and over a relative short period a valuable asset relatively free of debt and been created from limited cash resources. My First Thoughts; Murray Darling Water Use: With a future 50 million population as against a past 100 thousand there is NO way that the environment can be issued with the same amount of water. Irrigation has with big projects done a lot of good for the environment, Snowy Mountain scheme, Dams Hume, Dartmouth, Eildon, to just name a few. There is a need for some water to flow to the sea to reduce salt levels.

FIRSTLY; The 4 barrages that block the Murray from the sea need removing. This will allow Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert, 2 artificial Lakes to revert to their natural low level with the tide flushing out the river mouth twice a day. With these two lakes back to their normal size the saving of water to the environment would be over 1000 gigalitres a year.

Water also needs to be shut off from a lot of other fresh water lakes so that we can afford the water to keep other lakes full for recreation and fishing.

The shallow Meindee lakes could also be reduced by two thirds, a huge evaporation saving of water. There is a need for more water storages like deep mountain dams on the Mitchell and McAllister rivers in east Gippsland. A reduction of the Gippsland lakes area would allow surplus water to be diverted back into the Murray system.

Ken Davison of the age has been writing for years of the benefit of bringing Tasmanian water to Melbourne. If this was done Thompson dam water could be diverted back to the Murray system. We should not be dismantling irrigation and native forest harvesting. They are forever renewable industries.

We are now into iron ore and coal for our current high standard of living But these industries are NOT forever and they will in time be in decline.

Only 1% of Victorias' native forests are now harvested. This is a DISGRACE as only 5% are needed for tourist venues. If 95% were selectively logged water harvest over the timber catchment area would rise by 20%. Good forest management would reduce the heat of wildfires, save some wild life, reduce our overseas purchase of timber, and help people from getting lost, and provide thousand of jobs. Its' been proven in W.A. that timber harvesting results in more water in the dams.

The worst thing to happen in southern Australia is bluegum timber plantations. Trees use a lot of water, creeks have dried up, and underground water levels are dropping. This only happened because of a 100% up front tax deduction for management investment schemes.On the driest continent on earth subject to terrible droughts with wet years few and far between we need to plan our water use without the pressure of the 10% greenie vote affecting sound planned water solutions for the Murray Darling catchments. 2/ Irrigation Farmers

The recent drought has devastated irrigation farms, some getting no water allocation for 2 years and 9% in the 3rd year, together with dry land crops failing to finish due to the drought. Farmers have been refused the Government interest subsidy being told they are not viable. On appeal stating with water and normal seasons they will be viable and with family help them will continue farming. The same result the Government refused the interest subsidy on the grounds, if you can get family help you don't need our help. No wonder some farmers have committed suicide.

Buying Water Allocations 3/ Is a positive action as this will allow some farmers who have had a gutful of disappointment to get out with some dignity. Hopefully enough farmers will remain to use the infrastructure effectively.

4/ Build More Dams.

There is a need to build more dams, deep water dams for clean Hydro electricity for low evaporation loss and flood mitigation. The Snowy scheme and the Tasmanian dams are examples of great jobs done well. Unfortunately the Greenies are hell bent on killing off all dam building. Water in dams is like money in the bank, it can be used at a later date. Floods are a huge cost that dams can help to mitigate. Dams need to have excess capacity, only the Dartmouth has excess capacity.

Engineers need to look for suitable sites on the Lachlan, Macquarie, Namoi, Barwon, MacIntyre,Condamine, Marenoa,Warego rivers. Letting flood waters run down the rivers into shallow lakes is a certain way to waste water.

5/ Evaporation Water Waste

Lake Eyre is a good example of nature wasting water, it can go a long time without water, but when it fills it can all be lost to evaporation in 2 years. 61 Environmental Flow

The environmental flow lobby is asking for water to be taken off farmers so more can run down the river to the sea. With this years floods that is unavoidable. We don't have the dams to collect the water so a fair lot will end up in the sea.

With normal drier years only a small quota needs to run into the sea to clear salt, after that they need to prove their case for extra environmental water.

II Natural Environment In the natural environment lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert were joined to the sea and only had fresh water when the river was in flood, so in drier years these lakes need returning to salt water, the sea.

8/ Trees

The environmental trees box and red gum are very tough and can go long periods like 20 years with out flood water, existing on rainfall only.

They do suffer from too much water and die off when flooded for long periods. They also die from too much water bringing water tables with salt to the surface. I have also seen unhealthy red gums from insect attack. However a short time later they have completely recovered.

9/ Salty Water Tables.

In many areas farmers have put in bores and with electric pumps have lowered the salty water tables, a great effort.

10/ Red Gum Forests The Barmah red gum forests now have more tree density than before settlement, they are in excellent order.

11/ Environmental Water

So if the environmental lobby wants water for the environment they need to prove their case before valuable water is released for minor gains. 12/ Farmers And The Environment Farmers are always doing a lot for the environment, building dams, planting shelter belts all over the place. You only have to drive around to see all the good that's been done for the environment.

13/ Wrong People Having Too Much Say The wrong people are telling the Government what is supposedly wrong with the Murray Darling water basin and they are not saying what is good about it. They are green type people who want everything left natural, but we have not learnt to eat gum leaves yet.

14/ The Way To Get A Good Fair Result

To get a good balanced understanding of what needs doing, you need to consult people with their feet on the ground living in the effected areas, who know the value of the water and know how it should be used. Shire and Council valuers know every area like the back of their hands, know the value of the water, know the value of the towns, they are the people to ask if the water needs to be used in a different way.

15/ What is Wrong My thoughts are that there is not a lot wrong except shortage of water in dry years, more dams, water schemes ect is the answer to that problem. There needs to be a reserve of water in dams so irrigation farmers always receive an allocation even if it is as low as 10%. No allocation fore two years and 9% for the third year is a heart breaking experience.

16/ Water Harvest We can't include this year it is so abnormally wet, in normal years improved pastures, farm dams, overgrown forests and timber plantations are keeping a huge amount of water out of the dams. The big item in Victoria and Southern NSW is over grown thick forests. These forests have thickened during my lifetime. When 20yrs old I spoke to an early settler Mr Alec Barr who used bullock teams to transport supplies on wagons from Portland to Casterton. He said" where the bulldozers are clearing thick forest at Dromburg today I used to hobble my bullocks and let them graze amongst the trees with grass". I asked what thickened the trees. He said" I don't know must have been the fires". He went on to say that they lit fires all through the middle of summer from horse back. Their stock would only graze on the last newest burn. However over the years my thoughts are there is another reason the forests have thickened in southern Australia, and that is rainfall containing air pollution stimulating forest growth. In some places over seas it is called acid rain. In Australia it is free fertilizer making crops, grass, forests all grow faster. The end result is hotter forest fires and less water in the dams. 17/ Climate Change Of course there is climate change. The big question is; are we giving it a boost with air pollution? The worst possible change is ice age, everything dies in the cold areas. The best result is warmer conditions because a lot of the planet is on the cold side. Wanner means more evaporation, more rain, more potential to grow more food, more potential to cope with population explosion.

The sun reminds us of its power between winter and summer each year, it could be guilty of warming us up a little. Earth quakes remind us that the earth is changing its shape all the time. Volcano eruptions remind us of their power, a large eruption could alter climate.

I have studied rainfall records and the last 30 years for southern Australia goes close to matching a 30 year period starting 1872 at the start of the 19th century. We just don't have enough knowledge from 200 years of weather records. I recently walked Cradle Mountain to Lake St.Clair. The distant mountain sides showed a lot of dead forest. I said to the university tour guide what killed the forest, he said "a long period of cold weather". Seemed to be out of step with global warming. The CO2 everyone is concerned about at present is providing a stimulant in free fertilizer to all plants. Maybe it could be a concern in the future, I don't know.

18/ In conclusion I trust that we can continue to use'our valuable water on a drought prone continent in a responsible way.

Signed J.A.McGrath

List of Appendices

1/ Murray Darling plan makes mockery of science (by Jennifer Marohasy)

2/ Murrays problems are not just up stream (By David Bryant)

3/ Natural River a dream (by John Cox)

4/ people power can beat rivers plan (by Dr. Anthony Hogan)

5/ There is a better way to save the Murray.

VFF welcomes stage 2 water saving move (both articles by Andrew Broad VFF)

6/ Bank on basins resilience (by Allan Moran)

II Water chief resigns PM strives for basin balance. ( both articles by Colin Bettles)

8/ Water from Tasmania hydro scheme could save the Murray (by Kenneth Davison) STOCK & LAND, October 28, 2010 1 • - > . 1

year the basin has enjoyed flooding rains. A reasonable person might conclude that we have finally got the balance right between irrigation and the environment, and along comes the new guide demanding even more water — ideally a whopping 15 Sydney Harbour equivalents be taken from irrigators. The new plan makes a mockery of the word "science". COfVfMEMT by Indeed there is no new science to justify JENNIFER MAROHASY the new demand for 7.6 million megalitres ment that before the development of the Lower Lakes which were never a totally of more environmental flow. T the very bottom of the Murray upstream irrigation, Lake Alexandrina was fresh water system and are now degraded Furthermore, most of the water will be Darling system are six large steel always fresh but this is nonsense and by European carp and new housing devel- sent down to the Lower Lakes, a region that • and concrete barriers blocking 90 ignores scientific studies published in the opments. did suffer during the recent drought, and per cent of the natural ebb and flow peer-reviewed literature, as well as Not so many years ago Bob Brown, leader unnecessarily, because the barrages could between Lake Alexandrina and the accounts from early settlers and explorers. of the Australian Greens, was claiming that have been ope'ned and the area flooded Southern Ocean. An assessment of the paleoecology of the it had been "scientifically proven" that 1.5 with seawater as happened naturally durT To the north west of the largest of these region by Peter Gell and Deborah Haynes million megalitres were needed to solve ing previous drought. barrages is Hindmarsh Island, a new golf details how the barrages have changed the the problems of the Murray Darling Basin. Indeed, if the MPRA w is .serious about course and housing estate with retirees ecology of the Lower Lakes and impacted Since then at ieast one million megalitres improving the natural environment of the encouraged to buy their piece of paradise on the adjacent Coorong (a long, sausage- have been bought back. most stressed part of the system, it would on the edge of a fresh water lake. shaped body of water that borders the During the recent drought the river remove the barrages now blocking the nat- The Lower Lakes were not always fresh. sea). did not run dry, Adelaide did not run out ural ebb and flow between the Lower Lakes | Before the barrages were built they filled In 1830, explorer Charles Sturt described of drinking water and the world's largest and the Southern Ocean i with sea water during periods of drought the waters of Lake Alexandrina as initially environmental flow release of 513,000 M Or Jennifer Marohasy is a biologist, \ but now enjoy eontinual flows of fresh "sweet" but by the morning of the second megalitres was made into the Barmah- research scientist and commentator on water from the Hume and Dartmouth Dams. day, as they headed across the lake he Millewa forest. And during this past environmental Issues. ' The Lower Lakes, Coorong and Murray noted the waters suddenly became salty Mouth will be the main recipient of all the and "unpalatable". 1 proposed new environmental flows in the There is an argument, put to me recently ' Murray Darling Basin Authority's (MDBA) by both Tim Flannery of the Wentworth ; controversial new Guide to the Proposed Group of Concerned Scientists, and Greg j Basin Plan. Hunt, Shadow Minister for Climate Action, j According to the 262-page guide, the that if the barrages had not been in place equivalent of four Sydney Harbours of during the recent drought, salt water would freshwater must be delivered to the Lower have penetrated an unnatural distance up Lakes every year by taking water from irri- the Murray River. gators as far away as the Namol Valley in These opinion leaders seem to conve- North West NSW. niently ignore that there was more water When representatives of the Murray travelling down the river during this recent Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) visited the drought than in either 1914-15 or 1945-46, Namoi recently, 200 irrigators wore t-shirts so there is no reason to suppose the intru- with the slogan "Save the Murray: Remove sion would have been any worse than back j the Barrages". then - before the completion of the Snowy In response, the MDBA told the meeting Mountains scheme. i there was no scientific evidence to support The bottomiine is that the new guide is i removing the"b*arrages. about taking water from our best food-pro- lite MutsA apparently accepts the argu-, ducing farm land and sending it down to I ENVIRONMENT DAVID BRYANT M-/7 a.0/0 Murray's problems are not just upstream

' he Murray-Darling Basin reducing the need for irrigation is integral to the functjon of the diversions as the cause of its published in 2000 by the Murray- Authority's draft basin plan cutbacks elsewhere. Coorong and two adjoining lakes, closure ignores the fact that river Darling Basin Commission, is all about outflows. It aims The Murray's muzzle is part of Alexandrina and Albert, known as flows before storage development provides a litany of environmental to Increase the Murray our history - five barrages built in the Lower Lakes. Together, the would have been just as low - zero. failures. Constant water levels in River's outflows by as much as the 1930s to turn lakes Albert and. lakes and the Coorong are a listed The single most important the lakes have reduced habitat and 100 per cent as a way of keeping Alexandrina into freshwater bnesT by the international Ramsar change in the hydrology of the wading bird numbers, and the river's mouth open. The barrages are a chain of " convention on wetlands, one of Murray Mouth is not upstream evaporation is as much as However, the plan ignores earthen causeways, concrete slabs, 65 sites in Australia that have been flows but the construction of the 1000 gigalitres a year. The reduced inflows, specifically the ageing steel radial gates and timber listed and protected due to their barrages. Massive reduction in estuarine area has reduced natural structures called barrages, just structures totalling 7.6 kilometres environmental significance. tidal flows has deprived our great fish numbers. Lake shorelines are above the mouth, that shut the that effectively block the Murray Calculations indicate the volume river system of the natural twice- eroding, contributing to increased Murray off from the ocean. Mouth from the ocean. Thanks to of tidal water that flowed into the daily water exchange that is a turbidity, which has decreased Only bvremoving them can these man-made structures our Lower Lakes, before the requirement of any healthy river. sunlight for aquatic plant growth. we guarantee the Murray mouth largest river has lost 93 per cent of construction of the barrages, was The barrages have had a much Environmentalists and probably . rema!ns~open~This would convert its natural estuarine environment. integral to maintaining the opening more significant impact than many scientists will argue that two artificial freshwater lakes back The barrages enabled water to the ocean. With a cumulative contributing to the dosing of the extra outflows are still required for to a functioning estuary and save administrators to back up fresh twice-daily tidal flow, the amount MurrayMouth. Instead of a other reasons, such as salt export." up to 1000 gigalitres (two Sydney^ water through the lakes and lower of ocean waterno longer passing gradient of saline through to fresh But given the plan has ignored Harbours) of evaporation each reaches of the Murray. They could through the Murray Mouth dwarfs . waters found in a natural estuary, consideration of relocating the year. control the height of the river; the latest proposal to push more- the Murray has now a smaller and barrages, it has failed to provide With new pipelines, about 270 kilometres of the lower freshwater through the mouth. dysfunctional estuary, the Coorong, adequate discussion about the total existing irrigated farms can be Murray and 75,000 hectares of Australia experienced a number and an abrupt change to an additional benefits of outflows. maintained, and the water saved lakes are under their influence. of severe droughts in the 200 years artificial and dysfunctional Clearly this is a discussion the from evaporation used to improve During the recent severe since European settlement, but freshwater body being the lakes community needs to have. South Australia's water security. drought, failure to keep the Murray before construction gf_tfaft. and the lower reaches of the river. Alternatively, savings could be used Mouth open became a major issue barrages, the MurrayMouth did The River Murray Barrages and David Bryant heads Rural Funds for environmental purposes - in this country. The Murray Mouth not close. To single out water Environmental Flows report, Management. FBA063 STOCK & LAND, November 25, 2010

COMMENT Most irrigators living along the area by half between 2005-06 and •••• -• by JOHN COX ;- • .• Murray have not noticed very much 2007-08, some 700,000 ha. "' difference in the environment along The other major failing of this NDER anticipated average the river during the drought. report, and all of the Wentworth rainfall conditions across the The Australian environment is Group analyses, is that there has Murray-Darling basin, the hardier than we give it credit for as been no scientific analysis of how U it has adapted to droughts and the present 19,000 gigalitres of Murray-Darling Basin Authority's flooding rains over its evolutionary water used by the environment proposal will take a minimum of could be more efficiently used to 3000 gigalitres from irrigators, of history. There have been many stressed achieve the same environmental which 10'OOGjL will be added to the outcomes as a cut in irrigation 14.000GL already being used by the diversions. . environment within the basin and an addition*! 2Q00GL will be added Irrigators have improved their effi- to the 5QQ0GI. already flowing into Most irrigators ciency of water use by more than 15 the sea. ' per cent in these drought years. living along,, If environmentalists could do the Irrigators just cannot see how the Murray have same then 3000GL of the present basin sustainability is significantly environmental use of 19.000GL improved by cutting their total not noticed would be saved and no irrigation basin allocations to 8000GL so as to very much cuts would be needed. allow 7000GL to flow down the difference in the Most public opinion polls find that River Murray canal, without over- people give a weighting of about 60 flowing its banks, and out of the environment per cent to economic outcomes and Murray mouth. along the river about 10 to 15 per cent each for The holy grail of the basin guide, health, social and environmental and also of the Wentworth Group, is during outcomes. that end-of-system flows improve the drought. The guide, in stressing environ- sustainability. mental outcomes at the expense of This may be the case for sorn^ these others, therefore runs count- rivers but the River Murray has er to what most electorates around been a working river for more than river red gums along the river dur- Australia want from their govern- 80 years and it is nonsense to try to ing the drought but a Forests NSW ment. return it to a natural river. A cost- report indicated that while about Australia has always been a land benefit analysis of this policy would 50 to 70 per cent of gums in NSW of the fair go and it is patently surely show this. were stressed, there was no reduc- unfair, for communities in the Even though there have been tion in forest area of 401,000 Murray-Darling basin to have their flows of less than 1000GL into the hectares and there was only a 1 per wellbeing threatened by a charter Lower Lake$ since 2003 and very lit- cent tree mortality rate. which places environmental out- tle flow into ..tile sea, there has been The recent flooding of the comes ahead of all the other eco- no problem with salinity along the Barmah-Millewa forests will bring nomic, social and health outcomes Murray, even for drinking water for these red gums back pretty quickly. that people in all other parts of the Adelaide being pumped from Irrigated agricultural crops do not country take as granted. Mannum. ••:•:• have this same resistance to Hopefully residents in metropoli Moreover, the Coorong will not be droughts and flooding rains and tan areas will support their' rura a beneficiary of any further end-of' there has been "a devastating cousins in achieving this fair go. system flows as this is a closed impact" here. backwater and any additional water The drought in the Murray-Darling ta John Cox Is a citrus grower from will flow straight out of the mouth. basin decreased the irrigated Walkerie In South Australia. C-upUU CMP' People power Tan beat rivers plan IN the face of significant threat, the damage is more readily fanners for years and the Basin enough that this inquiry occur their decisions and implement a the rage being witnessed across hidden. crisis was just what was needed after the horse has bolted. transition plan to move towards Basin communities is testament But you can't hide these to justify the severe kinds of There are several ways rural a new platform of sustainability. Local communities to the fact we are uniquely things in the country. economic rationalism they have communities can encourage There are billions of dollars bound to each other and the We are ever conscious of our wanted to implement. community-centric policies. allocated to the implementation have the power to world we live in. inter-dependence. The problem is the Murray- The community, through lo- of the Basin Plan; let's use a few challenge the anti-farm, We are dependent on one an- The problem with the current Darling Basin Plan was pub- cal government, for example, million to put in proper anti-social, city-centric other and the environment for policy process is not new. lished without a social im- can come together and partici- processes to address the con- policies behind the our livelihoods and wellbeing. The social aspects of Aust- plementation plan to document pate in decision-making. cerns of Basin communities. Any proposal to damage this ralian government policy have how rural livelihoods would be Commonwealth policy- • Dr Anthony Hogan is Murray-Darling Basin sensitive relationship will be constantly played second fiddle protected while we protect the makers are just one stakeholder deputy director of the Plan, writes fiercely resisted. to a certain economic determin- river system. among .many at the table.' National Institute for Rural ANTHONY HOG AN In the cities, it is easier to get ism dominant in Canberra. And while I welcome the call The community has the re- and Regional Australia at the away with economic Central economists, as we for a homan impact study,, we sources to commission the Australian National utilitarianist policies because know, have been after small need to note that it is not good necessary research to inform University. STOCK & LAND, Decembe There is a better way to save the Murray |*f"HE Victorian Farmers The VFF, with analysis from objective - healthy f I Federation (VFF) was not the Victorian Department of rivers, strong !oomj**»tely surprised to hear of Sustaioability and the communities, | the resignation of Mike Taylor Environment, has identified at and i .1$ chair of the Murray Darling least three opportunities to continued ; Basin Authority (MDBA) earlier pursue infrastructure works. food n the week. These include potentially production - , Mr Taylor had acted with significant water saving is achieved on the most ', ategrity as head of the MDBA AS I SEE IT toy projects at Lindsay Island 'jut had been frustrated by wetlands, the Hattah Lakes and equitable • tilings in the Water Act 2007 ANDREW BROAD the Gunbower Forest. basis. ybich prevented the Authority Mr Taylor is correct in calling Surely, as a country row. completing a for a reconsideration of the renowned for our innovative •omprehensive river process currently in place. nature, a better way can be uanageme&t plan. The Federal Government found to achieve balanced In stepping down from his must re engage stakeholders, outcomes. position as chair of the MDBA, communities and the states to Farmers are calling on the like Taylor has acknowledged overhaul the process and Federal Government to take /-#*• .•hat farming groups, including better reflect the feedback the advice of their most senior <* Ue VFF, have been saying for being passed on at community Basin bureaucrat and tenths; the MDBA is incapable consultations. reconsider the next phase of ,1 completiag a plan that A significant area which must the Basin Plan process. -rtlanccs the Heeds of farmers, be revisited is the potential to Steps must be taken now to •jral communities and the address environmental issues ensure balance is restored to • Andrew Broad is «¥ironmenl under their in tiie Basis by prioritising the preparation of the Plan and president of the Victorian arrant mandate. water saving infrastructure. that the government's own Farmers Federation

STOCK & LAND, November VFF welcomes Stage 2 water savings movs IT BE Victorian Farmers reinforce the importance of this Access to irrigation wait I Federation (VFF) welcomed project. the Iifeblood of many sma ite recent announcement that As it stands the Goulburn- towns in Victoria's nortii. lie State aad Federal Murray Irrigation District loses the VFF welcomes this 'iovernmeats will partner with on average 800 billion litres of commitment by both the rrigators to deliver Stage 2 of water through evaporation, Federal and State Goveruj /Ictoria's Food Bowl seepage, leakage and system • we do question whether Modernisation project inefficiencies. The VFF has irrigators will be left to fo. The business case for the always maintained that water bill for the State's $106 ml a'^estaent staled that Stage 2 AS 1 SEE IT by savings within the nation's food contribution towards fee f >old deliver approximately ANDREW BROAD bowl should be made primarily project ;§§ gigalitres in water savings connected directly toth e through infrastructure After contributing $160 s uh the sttaring arrangement to backbone; improvements to the improvements. towards Stage 1 of the pro, sli'i 100GL for farmers and the irrigators should not be be backbone system, aimed at At a time when farmers' accountable for financing: emaining I0OGL for the enabling more accurate, real confidence in government to nviroament. 2. The State Government u time flowmeasurement , protect their rights to water to stand up now and let: This will mean that by the time reducing water ordering times entitlements is at a low ebb, it is northern irrigators know i atfa Stage I and 2 of the and allowing water tob e important that this plans on funding the secei iortaern Victoria Irrigation delivered without irrigators announcement has underlined phase of the project .o-newal Project are completed, having to manually operate that savings can be achieved The VFF has long called f. 'Idea Is scheduled to occur by their on-farm meters; and a through infrastructure further infrastructure opgi t) 17/18, water savings will be •umber of smaller water savings investments. to our irrigation systems. .'ipected to total an average of and environmental projects. The same principle should be Farmers welcome the recei t5GL per year, The VFF has lobbied for this applied across the Murray- announcement and the sav ri'-e Stage 2 project will additional investment since the Darling Basin. Farmers have it will deliver, especially tc .dude a connections program, original commitment to Stage 1 found ways to do more with farming communities in laed at consolidating was made. I met with Federal each drop, there are also ways victoria's north. laneetioQS and ensuring as Water Minister Tony Burke as to achieve better environmental any farmers as possible are recently as last month to outcomes with less water. M Andrew Broad is VFF pres

STttiCt A ia

.Bank on basin's resilience

John Quiggio argues that taxpayers totally dry before it became , 40 per cent of the nation's should buy 34 per cent of the water managed to allow modern agricultural output. Reducing the now used by Murray-Darling basin agriculture. quantity of irrigation water must irrigators and add this to the 50 per The plants and animals adversely affect the area's cent of water that now flows for associated with it have genetically agricultural output. environmental purposes ("Billions engineered themselves to cope with We need to ask why should we se down the drain", December 9). vast changes in water availability, unnecessarily marginalise rural C However, the present wet spell though nobody thinks we should communities by diminishing their b* has demonstrated the resilience of return the river to this natural state. agricultural income and replacing it s< the river system, which is now in the Quiggin is correct in arguing it is with government handouts. u process of a full recovery from the cheaper to buy water than to b. prolonged drought. undertake engineering measures to Aian Mctran p. The Murray-Darling's natural increase its flow to the sea. Director deregulation unit state is one of alternating floods But the Murray-Darling is a Institute of Public Affairs and trickles and the river often ran working river, and its basin supplies Melbourne Vic in STOCK & LAND, December 9. 2010

basin balance By COLIN SETTLES about his lega! advice and the PRIME Minister Julia Gillard weighed Water Act's reality, were "two into the row over the resignation of • EDERAL Shadow Water different things". Murray Darling Basin Authority Minister Barnaby Joyce has He said Mr Taylor's resigna- Chairman Vl-r Taj-'o~ saying tl-c called on the Federal tion statement was from some- T F 1 Govern-icrf '•."(" i •• <;-:~reH Government to release all legal one who was "absolutely frus- *•. interpret.-fior. of tLt WiJcr Act 20Q7 advice it obtained on the Water trated and infuriated by the fact and not Mr Tnyloi, and would forge Act 2007, following the resigna- his minister is saying one thing ahead with achieving a "triple bottom tion on Tuesday, of Murray when he knows the truth to be Mae win" with its water reforms. Darling Basin Authority something entirely different". Chairman Mike Taylor. Speaking to Rural Press exclusively He said Mr Burke must imme- on the same day Mr Taylor's In his resignation statement, diately table his legal advice resignation was first announced, Ms Mr Taylor said he recently which says the Act can deliver aj Giliard outlined Labor's commitment obtained further legal advice on balanced outcome for the to delivering a balanced plan for the Water Act from the basin. managing the Murray Darling Basin. Australian Government Soli- "It appears we have a ministe- Mr Taylor's view of Hit Water Act, citor. rial statement that says one which favoured eni.iroaitten.tal It appears this fresh legal evi- thing and from what we can outcomes over social and economic dence was the catalyst for Mr ascertain, legal advice that says factors, was the philosophical Taylor stepping down from the something completely differ- difference tbnt forced Ms departure. role. ent," he said. Asked who had the right The evidence may contradict Mr Joyce said environmental Interpretation of the Water Act, Ms . advice obtained by the Water outcomes were regarded as Gillard said, "the Government's right". Minister Tony Burke in .late being superior to social and She said to understand why it was / October, from the same source, economic outcomes for region- best to gather a historical perspective. wfiich he distributed in a minis- al communities in the Act. • Mike Taylor (pictured at the Griffith, NSW, community forum The PM said the Water Act made its • terial statement to the House of "If you go through the Act way through Parliament originally, • Representatives. itself, it says quite specifically, into proposed water reforms in October) has resigned as head of the Murray Darling Basin Authority. Photo: KATE GERAGHTY whea the Howard Government was in At the time, Mr Burke said his the Minister must not advise office and Malcolm TarnbuII was advice from the Australian the MDBA of changes based on Act, but the Government stood sive river management plan. Water Minister. Government Solicitor made it socio and economic circum- by its interpretation. "In stepping down from his "We believe the Act is in the right clear that environmental, eco- stances," he said. "We are determined to opti- position as chair of the MDBA form to optimise economic, nomic and social considera- Mr Joyce said if the Water mise all three outcomes; Mike Taylor has acknowledged environmental, social outcomes and tions were central to the Water Minister wanted to put the healthy rivers, strong communi- what farming groups, including we have legal advice to that effect," Act and that the Basin Plan issue to bed, he needed to ties, and continued food pro- the VFF, have been saying for Ms Giilard said. could "appropriately take these immediately instruct independ- duction," he said. months - the MDBA is inca- "The Water Act is in the right form to into account". ent MP Tony Windsor to con- Mr Burke said no decision on pable of completing a plan that have the Murray Darling Basin Mr Taylor's resignation letter dtic1~a^prt5peTTTivesIigation of a replacement chairman had balances the needs of farmers, Authority pat together apian dial has said the authority's recent legal the Water Act's ambiguities and been made. rural communities and the envi- an optimisation of social, advice gave further confirma- table all the legal advice he had The Victorian Farmers Feder- ronment under their current environmental and economic tion that it "cannot compromise received so far. ation president Andrew Broad mandate," he said. outcomes." the minimum level of water In commenting on Mr Taylor's said Mr Taylor had acted with "The Federal Government j? 'Ms Gillard STTCJ people in rural areas ' required to restore the system's resignation, Mr Burke said it integrity as head of the MDBA. must re-engage stakeholders, h would have plerfy of time to hrve environment on social or eco- had been known for some time He said Mr Taylor had communities and the states to /); their say during the MDBA's nomic grounds". that there was a difference of been frustrated by fallings overhaul the process and better |/ consultation processes rtert year. Mr Joyce said he had suspect- opinion between the Govern- in the Water Act 2007, which reflect the feedback being ed for "quite some time" that ment and the authority over prevented the authority passed on at community con- . •'• - COUX SETTLES what Mr Burke was savins interpretation of the Water from completing a comprehen- sultations." f

A ' " MONSOONAL TROUGH ACROSS SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND RURAL VVIUTKR ;"- rtlOUlii \~i\\ ( harters THE record-breaking rains across central Australia and southwest- ROMA ern Queensland this week will • ; •••:nvn at risk send huge volumes of water into ; Lake Eyre and down the Murray- ••.. •:j4: lown in Darling river system. •'••• :'J* The Bureau of Meteorology es- BOM reports 401,()0J)bn litres of '..: '•;; • at ;4m, hreakiap timates that, over the 10-day rain have failed across NT and kl period ending March 3,403,000 '"•Lonfjvk'h billion litres of rain fell across the in pasi if) days, bi<>gosl fall sinc .'•:••'•;. •.-leant! Maranoa Northern Territory and Queens- Aiuii !<•)<)() land - • the biggest fall since April 1990. Records ha/e tumbled with the rain. The bureau reports rainfall of over lOOrnni across 1.7 per cent of Australia on March 1, and over 1.9 per cent of the country the fol- lowing day, setting a record for a single day. The previous record was set on December 22,1956, ' -i'-j The water is now flowing down SBAiNE through (he many rivers and creeks of the upper Darling River catchment, setting records at towns and stations. There is major flooding in the Diamantina, Bareoo and Cooper Creek catchments of the Lake Eyre basin. In the Darling River catchment, the Paroo, Warrego, Wallam and Mungallala Creeks, Manmoa, Baionne, Condamine, Moonie and Weir Rivers are all in flood. " Senior hydr'dogist with the bu- reau Hugh l'ruistsaid theQueens- land flows would produce "signifi- Morgan Rcni iiai'k cant inflows into the Darling right the way through from Mungindi to Wiicannia over Hie next two to .ONEV three nuinths". 'I ean'l say what they will do with wafer in the Menindee Lakes, but you will see the continuation of good Hows extending dawn to South Australia," he said. With much of the Darling .;!)l)nim catchment already wet with post- Christmas rains. Mr Bruist said Join the debate with Australia's most wanted columnists, bfoggers and the best writing on the issues that matter to you. tteafe.cffi,ai/iaf»ialtimes erne CTH the Murray- rivers that die, do so from the enced over the past 13 years government ministers went to Darling Basin Authority mouth up. Any solution to the this would not produce a litre these meetings. and the federal govern- Murray's long-term viability of water for the river. It is The central recommenda- ment have the wrong must start by specifying the apparently not understood by tion was mad. Why should the end of the stick in their dash flow rate at the mouth of the anybody except the farmers government buy back any over whether the environment river. that a licence does not guaran- licences when it has control should take precedence over All the experts agree that tee an allocation of water for over the allocations? The Went- the irrigation communities the Murray needs 300-400 bil- irrigation. worth group of environmental along the Murray River. lion litres of water to flow During the worst period of scientists and economic ration- Leave aside the obvious fact through the lakes at the mouth the long drought, allocations that without a healthy river of the river and out to sea. This were often close to zero. Farms there can be no viable econ- The Murray-Darling plan determines how much water is went broke, and families were I New piping technology omy which is dependent on required for environmental broken. The survivors know can be nifty iiaiced if the river, the outgoing chair- cannot work, so it's time flows up the river. that the licences of those man of the authority, Mike to look at alternatives. Instead of doing this, the forced off the land have mainly private Investment. 9 * Taylor, had no option under authority came up with a ended up in the hands of the the law but to give the environ- recommendation that 30 per banks and superannuation aiists must bear some ment priority based on advice resign. He announced last cent of the water licences be funds who will await the gov- responsibility for this policy, from the Commonwealth week that he had decided to bought. ernment's best offer during the which stems from their belief Solicitor-General. leave his post at the end of The 3000-4000 billion litres next drought. that the problems associated Prime Minister Julia Giliard January. of water licences would cost It is no wonder that irrigat- with water (including urban was in effect demanding that The authority's report to the $7 billion to $9 billion based on ors were incandescent with supplies) can be solved the authority should do some- government two months ago previous purchases. rage at the various meetings set through setting up one big thing contrary to the Water Act on the river's health, however, No government would pay up by the basin authority in private market in water. and therefore act illegally. was useless because it didn't this amount. Worse, in times of irrigation towns along the This is why everybody's Taylor had no option except to start from the beginning: all drought as we have experi- Murray or that no responsible water bills are rising dramatic- MONDAY, 0BIM8ER 13, 2010 I

ally, even during a huge flood Shepparton. Take your pick. It without pumping, are the that is filling all the dams. is clear that no government Thomson and Upper Yarra Water prices have to rise in can do that and remain in dams, which supply 90 per cent order to pay the capital cost of office. of Melbourne's water. desalination plants up and The current plan cannot This water for Melbouri/-:: down the east coast of Austra- work. The only alternative is to can be replaced by water, ted lia which are likely to be get a guaranteed 300-400 bil- by gravity, from north-west rnotfibalied because they are lion litres a year from outside Tasmania after it has been used too expensive to run. the basin, because even though to generate electricity by Hydro The Victorian plant at Won- all the dams on the Murray are Tasmania. thaggi is the worst arid most full and spilling, there are no Recent developments in costly example because it is the possible large new dam sites technology now mean it is biggest. capable of storing 3000 billion more expensive to operate the The new Baillieu govern- litres needed to keep the river desalination plant than pipe ment promised to release the running during a long drought. twice the guaranteed volume contracts underpinning this Manufactured water or of water from Tasmania. gigantic white elephant. It is water from the tropics cannot The new piping technology now the third week and no supply environmental water can be fully financed by private release. because the delivery price is investment, it can generate What the river needs is real too high. additional income for Tas- water on a constant basis that The only existing dams high mania by selling water that flows through to the mouth. enough to supply environ- now runs into Bass Strait, and This can only be achieved by mental flows of up to 400 save the Murray-Darling Basin, closing down one major irriga- billion litres a year, high tion area centred on Mildura enough to supply water to the Kenneth Davidson is a senior columnist. /Renmark, Griffith/Leeton or' Murray-Goulburn system Email: [email protected]