The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) says Victoria deserves its fair share of Basin adjustment funding after contributing more high reliability water to the Basin Plan than any other Basin state.
VFF Water Council Chair Andrew Leahy said while the VFF remains firmly opposed to further water buybacks, it was critical the Sustainable Communities Fund remained focused on addressing the impacts of water recovery where they are experienced first and most directly.
“Victoria has already contributed more than 570 gigalitres of high reliability water, together with around 70 gigalitres of low reliability water to the Basin Plan. The high reliability water alone represents around 23 per cent of Victoria’s entitlement volume and is the largest recovery of high reliability water from any Basin state.”
“Other Basin states have already received adjustment funding. It is only fair that Victoria receives its share after making such a substantial contribution to the Basin Plan,” Mr Leahy said.
Mr Leahy added the Sustainable Communities Fund could never compensate for the full impact of permanent water recovery.
“Every buyback permanently reduces the consumptive pool, placing increasing pressure on productive irrigation systems, agricultural businesses and the regional economy they support.”
“The impacts have not come from one decision, but from the cumulative effect of many years of permanent water recovery. Every buyback removes a little more water from productive use, making irrigation districts harder to operate and gradually eroding Northern Victoria’s productive capacity,” Mr Leahy said.
With funding limited and the impacts ongoing, every dollar must be invested where it would deliver the greatest long-term benefit.
“That means maintaining viable irrigation districts, investing in productive irrigation systems, modern infrastructure and agricultural businesses, and supporting practical implementation that helps irrigation regions adjust to permanent water recovery.”
“Healthy regional economies start with healthy irrigation districts. If governments want strong regional economies, they must first protect the productive irrigation systems and agricultural businesses that sustain them.”
Mr Leahy said the Fund must remain true to the purpose for which it was established.
“This is a finite Commonwealth fund established to address the impacts of Basin Plan water recovery”.
Victorian Farmers Federation would continue working constructively with the Victorian Government to strengthen the final program.
“This funding is an important first step, but it will not be the last. Governments must remain committed to supporting the productive irrigation systems, agricultural businesses and regional economies that continue to bear the impacts of Basin Plan water recovery,” Mr Leahy concluded.