31st January 2007Almost over-shadowing news of John Howard’s water reform package in central Queensland, the big news arises from “good falls” of rain across the Fairbairn Dam catchment.
AgForce water spokesman, Ian Burnett, says his property, which grows cotton and cereal crops just north of Emerald, had received between 60-70mm.
“We were able to catch some for irrigation, plus it gives us an opportunity to plant summer grains crops – sorghum especially,” Mr Burnett said.
“There’s still a seasonal opportunity for us because there’s a couple of weeks left of the planting window.”
With his water allocation linked to the capacity of the Fairbairn Dam, Mr Burnett reports that levels are already up from 12pc to 17pc.
Along with many other Queensland irrigators, AgForce’s water spokesman says he “likes the sound of the PM’s ideas” with respect to managing the nation’s rivers.
He says, however, the lobby group has concerns that “… we don’t lose what we’ve already achieved” through the National Water Initiative (NWI).
“Certainly, it’s an opportune time for the Federal Government to take some control over the over-allocation within the Murray Darling Basin.
“But we don’t want to start from scratch as far as the NWI is concerned.
SOURCE: Extract from report to be published in Queensland Country Life, February 1.
