Water for Summer Crops

9 September 2002

Negotiations with Snowy Hydro are continuing in an effort to secure additional water for General Security Irrigators for the coming season.

"We are hopeful that an arrangement with Snowy can be finalised in time to allow our irrigators to prepare summer crops," said Geoff Hipkins, Chief Executive of Murrumbidgee Irrigation. "General Security allocation is currently 38%, with only 27% available by the end of February. Based on this allocation farmers simply cannot hope to produce sufficient summer crops to meet market demands."

"We are working together with industry representatives in an effort to secure water, at an affordable price, for our irrigators," continued Mr Hipkins, "if farmers are not able to produce summer crops the economy of our local area will suffer.

Water that has been transferred intervalley is not available, and may not be for some time. Farmers purchasing water under the transfer scheme must realise that this water is not in Murrumbidgee dams and therefore cannot be accessed, even though they have purchased the right to do so."

As soon as negotiations have been finalised we will advise irrigators of their options."

ends

For further information contact: Geoff Hipkins, Chief Executive, phone: 6953 0100