AN election pledge to cut water prices for Queensland irrigators by up to 50 per cent has been funded in the 2020-21 state budget.
Treasurer Cameron Dick announced $81.6 million over the next three years would be invested in delivering the promise.
Under the commitment, 6400 farmers who buy water from Queensland's 35 state-owned irrigation schemes, including for broad-scale crops like sugar cane, will have water charges slashed by 15 per cent from July 1. Water charges for fruit and vegetable growers will be cut by 50 per cent from the same date.
Dam improvements have also been funded with $150m allocated to Sunwater and Seqwater to undertake projects in 2020-21.
Construction in 2020-21 include works at the Ewen Maddock Dam and the controversial Paradise Dam.
Also in central Queensland, $115m has been allocated to the construction of Rookwood Weir in 2020-21, with river-based works associated with the project expected to start in April 2021.
That is out of a $352.2m total spend, which is jointly funded by the Queensland and federal governments.
Once complete the weir will add 76,000 megalitres of additional water to support agricultural growth, and enhance urban water security for Gladstone and the Capricorn Coast.
From 2021-22, $42.5m will be invested over three years for the proposed $80m Bundaberg flood levee to protect the town from inundation.
Further north, $11.6m has been allocated this financial year to the Burdekin Falls Dam improvement and proposed dam wall raising project.
Big Rocks Weir, 26km north of Charters Towers on the Burdekin River has been allocated $3m this year, to allow Charters Towers Regional Council to progress environmental and other regulatory approvals, geotechnical assessments and detailed weir design.
The other $27m promised for the construction of the weir has not been factored in this financial year.
Queensland Farmers' Federation chief executive officer Dr Georgina Davis said that while the Queensland Government had delivered on its election commitments, the budget was a missed opportunity to address critical competitiveness and productivity issues, and growth opportunities for the sector.
"Credit to the government for fully delivering on its election commitments, including reducing irrigation water charges for the state's farmers, electricity bill relief for small businesses, funding for agricultural skills and training facilities, and support for the reef credits initiative," Dr Davis said.
"The government should also be commended for listening to QFF and providing price relief for critical input costs, funding for resilience and risk reduction, dam safety improvement projects and biosecurity.
"However, more information is needed to address the uncertainties around implementing some of these significant initiatives."
Dr Davis said funding measures missing in the budget included abolishing stamp duty on agricultural insurance, capital investment for strategic water infrastructure projects and support for agritourism.
AgForce CEO Michael Guerin said agriculture was well placed to support the economic recovery task.
"We were pleased to see the Treasurer recognise the essential role agriculture plays in protecting our economy and the role of the regions in Queensland's current and future prosperity," Mr Guerin said.
"The importance of agriculture to every single person in this state and right around the country has been brought home since COVID reached our shores.
"Queensland agriculture continued producing the world-class food and fibre we rely on when there were fears from some in the community we might actually run out.
"AgForce sees, and the state government acknowledges, the vital role agriculture has to play in taking our state forward in challenging times and we are enthusiastic about the potential to work constructively with the government to allow our industries to do just that."
Mr Guerin said the industry welcomed the government's commitments for agriculture and rural Queensland, including $81.61 million to be allocated over three years from 2021/22 to reduce irrigation scheme water charges for the state's farmers, including sugarcane, and further dam and regional town water security investment.
