WITH the threat of 2015 being the hottest on record, SA acting Opposition Water spokesperson Tim Whetstone is concerned the state government has taken minimal measures to prepare for drought.
"The government have been sitting on their hands and not enacted any water reform of significance, except to take water off irrigators," he said.
"Below lock 1, irrigators have forked out 183 gigalitres in SDLs for the Basin plan, and the government has done nothing in either giving water back or implementing environmental works or measures.
"I am concerned that during the next drought, there will be nothing for SA to put on the table of outcomes we have achieved.
"And if a water sharing deal arises between the states, SA won't have a leg to stand on because we are not leading by example.
"And we currently have irrigating communities in crisis, especially down on the Lower Lakes, because we have done nothing to drought-proof this state."
In response, SA Water Minister Ian Hunter said the government had "done more than any other to drought-proof our state".
"When Labor came into government, SA was entirely reliant on climate-dependent sources of water," he said.
"We have invested in infrastructure to diversify our supplies, guaranteeing water security for Adelaide to 2050.
"We fought for a Murray Darling Basin Plan which will ensure the future health of the river - and weren't prepared to settle for second-best like the Opposition.
"We also won $445 million in programs for irrigation and environmental infrastructure and industry diversification, including the SA River Murray Sustainability Program."
Alisha Fogden
Cropping editor of Stock Journal.
Cropping editor of Stock Journal.
