Water ruling a win for common sense

With one of the driest winters behind us and what we know is going to be a long, hot summer ahead of us, something had to give to allow farmers to get water on to their land.

Last week the Tasmanian Government did what they had to do. They introduced a series of measures, extraordinary measures, to avert the disaster that was threatening. It had been very frustrating to see water flowing down the rivers and we were unable to access it.

The new policy to apply during extreme, dry conditions means that wise heads will prevail before we are denied access to water. The mandatory, across-the-board cease-to-takes in the spring will no longer necessarily apply. They will be determined on an individual catchment basis. In effect, you will still need your water licence to take water but the period you can take that water may be extended.

We believe this is an important short-term measure to try to reduce production losses during abnormally dry seasons. It is the sensible and the right thing to do. It had become clear that the stringent management framework in place could not respond to the crises we faced during periods of extremely low rainfall.

It is important to remember that the Government’s new policy setting will be reviewed six months after things return to normal.

I think confusion may have arisen in the reporting of this. How does it affect those farmers who are paying for water entitlements to Tasmanian Irrigation water?

The new policy applies to water under the control of DPIPWE’s water management branch, to water for which farmers have an annual take licence, of so many megalitres in an irrigating season.

It does not apply to the rights that farmers have paid for under the schemes that Tasmanian Irrigation has developed. Clearly, access to that water has to be subject to the 95 per cent surety provision that Tasmanian Irrigation. At the same time, it would be untenable for farmers who have not paid for that water to gain access to it unless through the water trading market.

Investors in our irrigation schemes have every right to expect that their investment is protected. It is for times like these that they put their money where their mouth was. It put them in the position of selling water when they had it and someone else wanted it. Confidence in the water trading market is central to the success of the irrigation roll-out.

THIS ARTICLE FIRST APPEARED IN THE TAS COUNTRY ON 13TH NOVEMBER 2015.
TFGA president Wayne Johnston