THE Federal Government has finally announced funding for on-farm water savings projects in the Murray Darling Basin, partnering up with local farm and environment groups to modernise irrigation systems.
But the $100 million announced in Deniliquin, in southern NSW, last week is still a long way from equalling the $1.3 billion spent by the Government buying water entitlements, with calls for Water Minister, Penny Wong, to continue rolling out the on-farm works to and balance up the focus on buybacks and water efficiency improvements.
In last year's Budget the Federal Government earmarked $300 million to invest in on-farm irrigation improvements, and this new announcement is part of that funding.
The Government will work with six local farm groups in the southern Murray Darling - the Australian Processing Tomato Research Council, the South Australian Murray Darling Basin Natural Resource Management Board, the Lachlan Catchment Management Authority, the Rice Growers’ Association of Australia, Murray Irrigation and Goulburn Broken CMA to roll out more than 500 individual water-savings projects on-farm.
In Deniliquin for the announcement, Senator Wong said emphasised the importance of working with local community groups to deliver the projects needed in each community.
"The important thing about these projects is they’re Federal Government funded, but locally led," Senator Wong said.
"I know it’s not we in Canberra who are going to make these changes, it’s the people on the ground. People who know how it is they can make their farms more efficient."
Senator Wong defended claims the roll-out of the funding had taken too long, and rejected assertions the project did not offer value for money in terms of returning water to the environment.
"The Commonwealth’s investing on the basis of a 50 per cent return on savings," she said.
"But can I say, if you’re only worried about how much you’re paying per megalitre all you do is purchase water.
"That’s not all we’re doing. You have to also invest in the economic and social viability of the communities where irrigation is a significant sector. You have to invest in our agricultural industries."
Senator Wong said it was important to "back" irrigators to become more efficient in a future with less water.
"That’s about food security. That’s also about the economic and social viability of these communities."
National Irrigators Council chief executive officer, Danny O'Brien, welcomed the minister's long-awaited announcement.
"We have always said that investment in more efficient irrigation infrastructure is a win-win for the environment, for governments, for irrigators and for irrigation communities," Mr O'Brien said.
"We want to see more investment in efficient irrigation systems like that announced today and less focus on the buyback of irrigation entitlements.
"Each has their place as part of the reform process, but efficiency investments provide a much bigger bang for the buck in regional communities and will allow irrigators to continue producing the food and fibre that all Australians rely on."
National Farmers Federation president, David Crombie, said the new program was "a victory for the future of many irrigation communities".
He said it would assist irrigators produce more food and fibre with less water, and to align on-farm infrastructure with irrigation delivery system investment.
"Today’s $100 million first instalment is good news for production at a time when the world is crying out for food and fibre and, despite the challenges we face, in Australia we excel at producing it. It is a boost for the environment, stimulates employment and supports regional communities," Mr Crombie said.
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