Murray Darling farmers fear forced flood easements

Farmers along the Murrumbidgee River in NSW fear they will be forced to allow flood easements on their land.

Farmers along the Murrumbidgee River in NSW fear they will be forced to allow flood easements on their land. Picture: visitnsw.com

Farmers on the Murrumbidgee River are pushing back against the NSW government’s proposal to acquire land that will be inundated during planned release of water to imitate flooding.

The proposal, part of the government’s effort to meet national Murray Darling Basin Plan targets, was first raised in September, shocking farmers whose properties would be cut by floodwater released to fill ­wetlands.

The government has proposed to establish easements in the low-lying areas that would be inundated during so-called environmental flows.

Farmer Deb Blackwell, whose family has farmed on the Murrumbidgee River at Mundarlo, 55km east of Wagga Wagga, for 170 years, said the government should pay farmers for every flood event to compensate for their detriment and the environmental benefits derived.

Ms Blackwell, who has joined other landholders to form Save Our River Dwellers, said severing farms for up to 20 days was “a massive loss of production”.

“The majority of farmers do not object to receiving environmental flows on their property but the government needs to understand this is an imposition on us,” Ms Blackwell said.

“The biggest issue is severance where the billabongs, anabranches, creeks and gullies can cut you off from part of your property.

“It turns part of the property into an island and we don’t receive any compensation for that.

“Forcing easements is an absolute violation of property rights.”

Ms Blackwell, who has joined with other landholders to form the Save Our River Dwellers, said severing farms for up to 20 days at a time was “a massive loss of production”.

Ms Blackwell said a “fee for flow” model could help alleviate concerns.

“We are happy to accept enviro flow but because we are a conduit to the environmental benefit we have proposed to the government a flee for flow (model),” she said.

“We are trying to create a win-win.

“It will hold the government accountable because they are not going to be releasing water unless they need to if they are paying for it.”

NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson said the government had no plans to compulsorily acquire land under the scheme, which was still being formulated.

Water Minister Rose Jackson. Photographer: Ted Lamb

“The NSW Government is not seeking to buy, own or allow public access to private land – instead, we are seeking to secure a flow corridor that will enable environmental flows,” Ms Jackson said.

“We absolutely understand that we need to provide fair and reasonable compensation for landholders and mitigate impacts to property, including access.

“The Landholder Negotiation Scheme is all about creating a framework to compensate farmers fairly for flow easements.”

The government has proposed environmental flows or 32,000ML to 40,000ML a day “three to five times a decade” in the Murrumbidgee region.

The flows would last between five to 20 days, which Ms Jackson said was consistent with the duration of natural flows.

“These flow options are below the minor flood level and will not cause major flooding of properties.

“Flows of this size occur regularly and naturally and are significantly lower than the floods of 2022.

“Outside these limited number of environmental flows, it’s business as usual for farmers who will continue to operate their properties as they always have.”

The Victorian government has ruled out compulsory flood easements on farms in that state.