Stop blaming irrigators and address shortfalls of Basin Plan

Our staple food security is at risk due to government incompetence, writes Andrew Hately.

Water fight: Don’t blame irrigators, blame shortsighted governments, says Andrew Hateley. Picture: Zoe Phillips

A REPORT last week highlighted the disturbing fact that water is becoming too expensive to grow staple foods such as dairy and rice.

This should be of extreme concern to all Australians; I’m not sure many people would be keen on a bowl of almonds for breakfast, or as a side dish with their evening meal.

Of extreme concern is the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s refusal to acknowledge the true reasons for high water prices, or the environmental damage to our iconic rivers, including the increased river bank erosion as we pour huge quantities from Hume Dam to South Australia.

In a recent publication titled Why is erosion occurring in the River Murray and particularly through the Barmah Choke?, the MDBA claimed it is from “sending large volumes of irrigation water through the river in summer when flows would be naturally lower and riverbanks drier. Making dry riverbanks wet in summer can cause more erosion than when the banks are already wet in winter”.

Why won’t the MDBA acknowledge that a combination of factors is causing the environmental damage? While irrigation water in summer is a contributing factor, it is perhaps less so than the massive volumes that are being sent to SA to keep the Lower Lakes full and the Murray Mouth open, both of which defy logic.

Under the Basin Plan we are moving vast amounts of water, bought as environmental flows, from above the Barmah Choke to below the choke.

The MDBA forever wants to blame irrigators for any adverse impacts of the Basin Plan, and has done so since its inception. It has always taken an anti-farmer stance, instead of working collaboratively with our food and fibre producers to effectively share water while achieving the best environmental outcomes.

Instead, it should be highlighting the failures of government planning that are causing the current problems. This includes the unregulated growth of crops such as almonds which need permanent water.

We would be far better off if there was an independent authority that was prepared to call a spade a spade, instead of pandering to governments, presumably so its billions of dollars in precious funding are not threatened.

The MDBA needs to acknowledge we cannot sustain staple food industries with the current water management and environmental objectives.

Instead of putting the blame on irrigators, how about pointing the finger at the incompetence and greed of governments who have put short-term goals and wealth ahead of what can be delivered, and what is sustainable and will protect our staple food security.

• Andrew Hateley is a farmer from Finley, NSW

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