CONCERNS about the future of irrigation and farming in the Goulburn-Murray Irrigation District (GMID) have been raised by Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed, after the release of an independent report into the impacts of pending buybacks from the basin.
A report by Frontier Economics Social and economic impacts of Basin Plan water recovery in Victoria outlines the socio-economic impacts of water recovery on irrigators and communities in northern Victoria.
The report showed that previous recovery from the region resulted in 50 percent less water use in the GMID, which puts pressure on the viability of irrigation in our district and the industries and communities it supports. It also showed that water recovery from the consumptive pool caused a price rise of about $72 per ML.
“The figures we see from recovery already carried out is stark, but we know further buybacks and on-farm efficiency programs are on the agenda as the Murray Darling Basin Plan comes to an end and will not meet the water recovery targets required,” Ms Sheed said.
“The report shows us that due to less water being used, our milk production was only half of what it could have been in 2021 and 2022, which has a direct impact on our communities.
“Further buybacks will add even more economic harm to the GMID and will leave farmers uncertain about their futures. If the Federal Government uses buybacks to recover the shortfall from our unfinished offset projects and the 450GL of upwater, the taxpayer is also going to be slugged with a hefty bill.”
Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek and our basin state ministers will meet to discuss major water issues at MinCo (Murray-Darling Basin Council) meeting, and Ms Sheed is eager to hear the outcome.
“I hope this report will demonstrate the impact further buybacks could have on Victoria and I am pleased that the Victorian Government is opposed to further buybacks to reach our recovery targets on time and stands by the socio-economic test,” Ms Sheed said.
