25th January 2007The National Farmers’ Federation has welcomed the Federal Government’s $10-billion water plan as a bold initiative, but it wants to see the detail before giving it the thumbs up.
NFF president, David Crombie, has welcomed the proposed spending on improved measurement, water efficiency infrastructure, bore capping and the exploration of greater agricultural production in Northern Australia.
However, Mr Crombie was cautious when responding to the Government’s decision to buy back water irrigation licences, saying he wants to see the detail before passing judgement.
“[But] I think the over-allocation is real and it needs to be addressed,” Mr Crombie said.
“You can’t possibly create certainty in water management where the water’s over-allocated.”
However, Mr Crombie has welcomed the proposed 50/50 water-sharing arrangement for water saved on-farm through Government-funded efficiency infrastructure.
“That’s a win for water conservation, a win for the continued uptake of more sustainable farming practice and a win for the environment,” he said.
What the proposal means for the future of the National Water Initiative (NWI) also remains to be seen.
However, the NFF believes the NWI is the best way to deliver genuine water reform on-the-ground.
“The NFF supports the full implementation of the NWI, not the piecemeal approach we’ve seen thus far,” Mr Crombie said.
“We need to see today’s targeted injection of program-specific funding accelerate implementation of the NWI – sooner rather than later.”
SOURCE: Rural Press National News Bureau, Parliament House, Canberra
