NSW Irrigators’ Council CEO Madeleine Hartley spoke about the tension between urban and rural water consumers at the Murray Darling Association conference in Shepparton.
Water security and impacts of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan were on the agenda of the two-day annual conference of the Murray Darling Association in Shepparton.
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Held over August 26 and 27, the conference attracted just over 100 delegates, who heard addresses on sustainable diversion mechanisms, water management research and socio-economic impacts of the basin plan.
Towns and irrigators aren’t competing for the same water; that’s according to NSW Irrigators’ Council CEO Madeleine Hartley, who spoke at the conference.
She argues that during times of drought, it should be easier for towns affected to buy water, lease it and enter into an agreement with entitlement holders.
According to Dr Hartley, during times of drought many farmers may be under financial pressure but they may still hold valuable water entitlements.
She says this can have a dual benefit of generating income for the farmer whilst helping towns to maintain adequate water supply.
“This is a much better economic outcome than simply reallocating water and leaving the entitlement holder to absorb the entire cost,” she said.
GHD Australian Dams leader Andrew Reynolds spoke about the many challenges associated with constructing new dams.
They are often expensive to construct and take a long time to build.
New dams can also have impacts on fish passage and flow regimes, Mr Reynolds said.
In many cases the best sites for dams have already been used.
He also highlighted that many existing dams are ageing, meaning they require costly upgrades and repairs.
New dams are expensive to construct and have environmental impacts, Andrew Reynolds told the Murray Darling Association conference in Shepparton.
Laurie Testoni, Shari Blumer, Scott Groat, Garner Smith and Chris Taylor at the Murray Darling Association conference.
Photo by
James Manley
Lloyd Polkinghorne and Ganawarra Shire Mayor, Cr Garner Smith at the Murray Darling Association conference.
Photo by
James Manley
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