NSWIC is urging the NSW Government to modernise water use under domestic and stock (D&S) rights to allow for essential farming functions like biosecurity management, weed and pest control and animal husbandry and health.
Yesterday's release of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) 'What We Heard' report into D&S water use comes two years after the consultation into this issue, which is of critical importance to irrigators across the state. The report shows that while the current framework is working, it could be expanded to include reasonable use guidelines for D&S water to ensure that vital agricultural practices can continue.
"Due to 25 years of government inaction, many farmers are in a situation where they have few practical options for performing vital tasks like spraying pest and fungus controls, cleaning farm equipment or administering medicine to livestock", said NSWIC Chair, Tom Green.
"Allowing farmers to continue these practices with legal certainty is crucial for the agriculture sector in NSW. The What We Heard report showed that this water is essential for undertaking day-to-day farming practices."
"Water take under D&S represents around 1% of surface water take according to the MDBA and the What We Heard report showed that the quantities involved were very small. DCCEEW can provide legal clarity for users with a simple expansion to reasonable use guidelines for water use under D&S."
"Irrigators in NSW already comply with some of the world's most stringent metering and compliance standards and NRAR consistently reports very high rates of compliance. NSWIC does not support further onerous regulations on D&S, given the low risk it poses."
"NSWIC is eager to work closely with NSW-DCCEEW to find workable solutions that ensure sustainable levels of water take continue and that farmers have ready access to water for fundamental biosecurity and stock use."
NSWIC hopes that the release of the What We Heard report is an important step towards common sense reforms that ensure the productivity and safety of food and fibre production across the state.
