The farming sector is hoping for rain as Sunwater releases scenario map

Without significant inflows medium priority allocations in the Burnett River Sub-scheme could range from 10-30 per cent at the start of the next water year. See Sunwater’s scenario estimates:

Local irrigators are hoping for rain soon. Photo: File.

While the region is looking a little greener, farmers are still hoping for more rain ahead of the new water year.

Sunwater has prepared an announced allocation scenario map for the Bundaberg Water Supply Scheme to assist with irrigation planning for the next water year.

A Sunwater spokesperson said due to recent dry conditions, the scenarios show that medium priority allocations in the Burnett River Sub-scheme may range from 10-30 per cent at the start of the next water year, assuming no significant inflows.

“The scenarios considered water demand and storage losses based on relevant historical data,” the spokesperson said.

“It is a guide and should be considered an estimate only.”

The spokesperson said medium priority allocations were last below 30 per cent in July 2008.

“It is important to note that announced allocations for 2021-22 could fall outside the figures presented in the scenarios, based on variables such as inflows, weather conditions and customer usage,” they said.

“From 1 July 2021, Sunwater will calculate the actual start of water year announced allocations using the volume held in storage at the time and publish them accordingly.

“Sunwater prepared the scenarios in response to a request made at the Paradise Dam Industry Forum.”

Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers managing director Bree Grima said they’ve all been doing the calculations to try to work out what could be the expected allocation come July this year and they “knew it was going to be grim”.

“Seeing it on paper like that makes it very real and it’s devastating to think we can go from 100 per cent allocation in June to potentially 10 per cent in July,” Ms Grima said.

“These allocations are not enough for any farmer.

“A ten per cent allocation is like saying you can only open your retail shop for 45 minutes every day instead of the usual 8 hours and are expected to continue to return the same product and service and make a profit in that time. It’s not possible.”

She said growers were “extremely anxious” about their allocation and the potential cost of water moving forward.

“Those that rely solely on surface water allocations in the Burnett River sub-scheme will be faced with difficult decisions regarding what and how much to plant, water and protect,” she said.

“Tree crops will be most susceptible given they cannot recover or be replanted quickly, these allocations will have impacts for many years to come.”

Bundaberg Regional Irrigators spokesperson Dale Holliss said it was no surprise that predicted starting allocations for the new water year commencing 1 July 2021 were low.

“We have not had decent rain anywhere in the catchment for at least three years and the immediate outlook for rain does not look promising,” he said.

“Fortunately the unsold volume of the Burnett Water Pty Ltd nominal entitlement in Paradise Dam is still ring fenced in the water sharing rules, and will not factor in to the announced entitlements calculation.

“This is welcomed and improves the reliability of all other medium priority nominal allocation holders, however, even with this, the scenarios run by SunWater show a likely start of between 10 and 30 per cent announced allocation for irrigators on the Burnett section of the system.”

Mr Holliss said many irrigators would be prioritising what to do with the “limited amount” of allocation and some will be looking at scaling back plantings.

“Hopefully it rains soon,” he said.

The Sunwater spokesperson said the Queensland Government was expected to make a decision on the future of the dam by the end of 2021.

“This will determine the scope of strengthening and stabilising work required as part of the long-term remediation of Paradise Dam,” the spokesperson said.

“There is potential that water releases may be required during the next construction phase.

“This will depend on the activities required and prevailing weather conditions at the time and will form part of the detailed project planning once the final scope of work is determined.

“The options being considered for the improvement works include mass concrete buttressing (widening the base of the dam and increasing the wall thickness by mass concrete), or large post-tensioned anchors, or a combination of the two, amongst other improvement works.”

Originally published as The farming sector is hoping for rain as Sunwater releases scenario map