Dominic Perrottet under fire over water sharing

Southern irrigators have declared war on the NSW government over a decision to hand billions of litres of water to private landholders in the north of the state.

Southern Riverina Irrigators chairman Chris Brooks says he would use political action in a bid to force the NSW government to listen. Picture: Simon Dallinger / The Australian

Southern irrigators have declared war on the NSW government over a decision to hand billions of litres of water to private landholders in the north of the state, saying they will do everything in their power to topple Premier Dominic Perrottet.

On July 29, Water Minister Kevin Anderson and Environment Minister James Griffin signed off on water-sharing regulation plans that landowners in southern NSW argued would allow their northern counterparts to store billions of litres of rainwater in private dams, depriving the downstream communities and environment of vital flows.

Recent flood plain harvesting reform allows landowners in the Border Rivers and Gwydir Valley – home to some of the nation’s biggest cotton producers – to meter and pay for flood plain-harvested water for the first time, which northern NSW landowners say is fundamental, given the lack of public storage dams.

Griffith Chamber of Commerce head Paul Pierotti accused the NSW government of “absolute duplicity”, saying it had “snuck through” the licensing on behalf of a “select number of farmers”, which undermined the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and the communities reliant on the river system.

Mr Pierotti said the NSW government had “gifted more than $1bn worth of water” to northern irrigators, as he pledged to ­campaign against Liberal Albury MP Justin Clancy, while funding independent candidates Helen Dalton in Murray and Joe McGirr in Wagga Wagga in their fight to retain their seats.

“Mr Perrottet needs to consider that if he loses another seat, his chances, which are already looking quite bleak in light of the Barilaro revelations, are in serious trouble,” Mr Pierotti told The Australian.

“This could be the tipping point which pushes the Perrottet government out of government.

“We will be having conversations with (Labor leader) Chris Minns about reversing the decision and putting a block on future buybacks.”

Already leading a $750m class action against the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Southern Riverina Irrigators chairman Chris Brooks said he would turn to political action in a bid to teach the Perrottet government a ­lesson. “We know we have the support of Labor and the Greens, but we cannot get enough people to support Labor and the Greens in these seats, which have naturally conservative communities,” he said.

“We will re-elect Helen Dalton in Murray. We will be doing our best to get rid of Justin Clancy in a show of strength against the Perrottet government.”

Mr Brooks has previously threatened to campaign against several federal Coalition MPs, including then environment minister Sussan Ley in her western NSW seat of Farrer.

“When it comes to managing water in NSW, my view is healthy rivers, healthy farms and healthy communities, not one or the other,” Mr Anderson said.

In response to an inquiry by The Australian, he said the legislation would ensure flood plain harvesting was controlled within legal limits, benefiting the “environment, farmers and downstream water users”.