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6 November 2007 NO SECRET WATER DEALS In response to news stories run over the weekend particularly in Melbourne media, Murrumbidgee Irrigation (MI) refutes the claims that secret water deals were done between NSW rice growers and Snowy Hydro Limited in the 2005/06 season. "The media claim that there were secret water sales done between Snowy Hydro and NSW irrigators, particularly in the Murrumbidgee region are simply rubbish!" responded MI Chairman, Dick Thompson. "The initiative between Snowy Hydro and Murrumbidgee irrigators was based on changes to the timing of the release of water. There was no water either sold or purchased and the contract to secure additional timely releases for both large and small irrigators in our region was made public via a media release from MI on the 12 September 2005. A cursory glance at the publicly available information on our website would reveal the MI media release entitled 'More advance water for irrigators'." The September 2005 media release provides the background to the water advance initiative which played a major role in maintaining some production and underpinning value-adding of irrigated produce during the fourth successive season of substantially lower than average crop yield. The initiative provided additional water for a range of crops including rice and other produce so that local jobs could be maintained for the 2005/06 season with the hope of surviving for improved seasons ahead. "Comments from John Kelly and Max Talbot are both inaccurate and inflammatory" said Mr Thompson. "To say there is 'virtually zero' water left in Lake Eucumbene and Jindabyne Dam rather than 800 gigalitres had these initiatives not been put in place is completely wrong. In fact there is around 700 gigalitres in Snowy storages at the moment. Messer's Talbot and Kelly seem to think there is something wrong with people making commercial arrangements and that water should be stored with a 'never to be released' label. They have obviously missed the last 10 years of water reform and apparently don't understand today's Snowy Hydro business or irrigation. In future they should get their facts right before taking their story to the media," concluded Mr Thompson.
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