Canberra steps into Australian water row
By Boyd Champness
IRRIGATORS have thrown their support behind a Federal Government compromise that would see the Commonwealth and the two state governments of Victoria and New South Wales share the cost of returning water flows to the Snowy River.
Acting Prime Minister John Anderson announced last week that the Commonwealth would support a plan to return flows of 15% to the Snowy River.
However, it would be up to the states to share the cost of fixing up irrigation systems to return the water, he said.
His statements, during a visit to the Snowy River town of Bairnsdale, were reported in The Weekly Times last week and mark a new step in the debate over flows.
This is a signal the for the first time the Commonwealth could be prepared to share water-saving costs and help foot the bill to fix leaking channels.
Irrigators welcomed Mr Andersons comments, but warned issues such as who pays to fix on-farm irrigation systems and leaking channels still need addressing.
Central Victorian irrigator Stephen Mills told The Weekly Times that irrigators would not pay for water they could not keep.
“If the governments pay for it they can keep it. Thats quite simple,” Mr Mills said. “But irrigators entitlements are sacrosanct.”
The 1998 Webster Inquiry found it would cost A$94 million to return a 15% flow to the Snowy and A$292 million (115m) to return a 28% flow.