Gympie farmers flag concerns over new Mary Basin water limits

A plan to change water licence limits from Caloundra to north of Hervey Bay and out to Goomeri could render many of the region’s productive properties unviable and spell the end of generations of farming, landowners say.

Plans to change water licence allocation limits across the Mary Basin from area-based to volume-based are raising big concerns with farmers, who say the proposal would drastically cut what they could use and risk farms around the area, some of which have been fixtures for more than a century.

State government plans to change water licence limits across the Mary Basin are leaving the region’s farmers on edge, with some claiming the proposed cuts will make their farms unviable.

The plan will involve changing the water allocations of farmers in the Basin, which stretches from Caloundra to north of Hervey Bay, and out west near Goomeri, from area-based entitlements to volume-based ones.

Gympie region avocado farmers John Groves and his daughter Kate are among those affected, with Mr Groves saying the new allocations – left unchanged – will spell the end of his Marys Creek farm which has stood for more than a century, and that Mr Groves’ father once worked.

Mr Groves said his allocation would restrict him to drawing 36 megalitres of water from Eel Creek each year.

This was well below his average use of about 83ML each year, which was itself little more than third of the 230ML his licence actually allowed.

Mary's Creek avocado farmer John Groves said the new limits proposed in the plan would slash the entitlements at his Marys Creek farm to less than half the 83ML it needed to run every year.

“Thirty-six megalitres is just not viable,” Mr Groves said as there was “no capacity to build a dam at the farm”.

They have applied for the limit to be changed, seeking approval for 150ML while holding hope “they might double it for us”.

Without any give from the state the changes would likely spell the end.

“There won’t be an avocado farm here,” Mr Groves said.

Calico Creek cattle farmer Martin Wilson said the state government was going about the changes back to front.

Mr Wilson said the new limits were being proposed without anyone having actually checked what farmers across the basin are using.

“They’ve taken one paint brush and painted the entire area with it,” Mr Wilson said.

Calico Creek dairy farmer Martin Wilson says the new proposed water limits would be only half what was being used at his property, and he would be happy with the changes if the state government would meet him at that level. Photo: Contributed

The new limits were half of what his own farm used, with his metres showing an average of 12ML per hectare.

Mr Wilson said he had yet to be asked by anyone for this information, and he would be happy with the changes if they met the same level of water he was using now.

“It’s just not right, they’re taking water off us without any real information,” he said.

A state Water Department spokeswoman said the changes were being introduced to align the area with existing legislative framework.

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“The proposed conversion rate for area-based water licences is 6ML per hectare, based on the area currently authorised on the licence,” the spokeswoman said.

“Where historical entitlements exceed proposed newly converted entitlements, entitlement holders are encouraged to make a submission to the department for consideration.”

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Consultation on the changes started in May 2021, with the second round of feedback underway.

“Consultation has consisted of meetings with a wide variety of stakeholders, including water advisory committees, peak industry bodies, local governments, water supply scheme operators, environmental interest groups, indigenous groups and one-on-one meetings with water licence holders on request,” the spokeswoman said.

The department encouraged any farmers concerned about the changes to make a submission to the state government, she said.

Submissions must be made no later than Friday, April 21, 2023.

The new water plan is expected to be released in May 2024, with the changes to come into force after that date.

Originally published as Gympie farmers flag concerns over new Mary Basin water limits