Finding Water in Times of Drought

28 October 2002

Murrumbidgee Irrigation recently secured a contract with Snowy Hydro providing irrigators with an opportunity to purchase water options for redemption later in the season. At a time when drought is impacting most of NSW this surety of water provides relief to a weather battered industry.

Low water levels in Burrinjuck and Blowering Dams has meant that the water allocation for General Security irrigators is currently 38% with 27% available prior to February. Farmers were looking to plant less than half of their average summer crop.

The implications of reduced agricultural production are great. Decreased primary production means less turnover for mills and factories that manufacture agricultural produce. This in turn effects local employment and the prosperity of the community.

Murrumbidgee Irrigation Chairman, Dick Thompson, led the team that successfully negotiated water from Snowy Hydro to supplement current allocations.

"This is a great result for farmers and for our community", said Dick Thompson. "The additional water provides a level of surety for summer crops and local jobs."

212,000 Megalitres was taken-up under the Snowy offer, with 144,000 going directly to Murrumbidgee Irrigation. The balance is to be delivered to Coleambally Irrigation and river pumpers.

"I commend Terry Charlton and his team at Snowy Hydro for their cooperation throughout the negotiation process. A solution wouldn't have been reached without their commitment to a positive outcome," said Mr Thompson "DLWC provided support for our negotiations with Snowy and our thanks goes to Kim Alvarez and DLWC staff in Wagga and Sydney."

"The surety of water means an additional 200,000 tonnes of produce. The flow on effects of this are enormous when we start looking at manufacturing jobs and value-added production," said Mr Thompson "This is good news for everyone in our community, and our thanks goes to all those who participated in securing the deal."

Ends

For further information contact: Dick Thompson, Chairman, phone: 6953 0100