FARMERS will have now greater access to the state’s strategic water reserve.
Queensland Farmers’ Federation has welcomed new laws passed by the state government allowing the temporary release of water reserved for future infrastructure including dams and weirs to provide opportunistic supply.
QFF president Stuart Armitage said the changes would ensure farmers would be able to make use of unutilised water and help drive the agriculture sector forward to the benefit of all Queenslanders.
“QFF has long advocated for Queensland’s strategic water reserves to be made available to farmers and allow them to capitalise on the existing infrastructure opportunities,” Mr Armitage said.
“Queensland’s 23 water plans currently set aside about 990,000 megalitres of water as strategic infrastructure reserves which could be utilised by the state’s irrigators for high value agriculture.
“But critical to the success of this initiative is the issue of decreasing water affordability.”
Mr Armitage said it would be important for the government to make the water available at costs that reflected its short-term availability, any seasonal conditions of supply, the additional costs that farmers may face in establishing on farm infrastructure and the high electricity costs of pumping.
“For Queensland to continue producing world class food, fibre and foliage, agriculture must have access to reliable and affordable water,” Mr Armitage said.
The changes will also require government planners and any future minister to address potential climate change effects and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ values in future water planning.
“It is critical that the impacts of any changes to water plans as a result of climate change forecasting and cultural needs be fully and transparently assessed in consultation with QFF, industry and water users,” Mr Armitage said.
