Southern Riverina irrigators have welcomed an advance of water from the Snowy River scheme, which they say will allow them to plan the coming season. Snowy Hydro has announced it would advance 200 gigalitres, for the 2016-17 season, Southern Riverina Irrigators chairman Graeme Pyle said.
Having secure knowledge farmers would get access to 25 per cent of entitlements. would give peace of mind, a sense of relief and a feeling of hope. “I am sure many workers at the Deniliquin rice mill will be sleeping better following the announcement, as it should secure a rice crop and therefore local jobs,” Mr Pyle said.
The advance would help farmers finish off winter crops, water their pasture or provide feed for livestock, and give rice growers the ability to plan their summer growing season. Dairy farmers would gain cost relief from exorbitant prices for water. But Mr Pyle said it was imperative changes were made to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. “There must also be a total culture change within the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, forcing it to properly consult and accept the social and economic damage the plan is causing,” Mr Pyle said.
Deniliquin rice grower Shelley Scoullar set up the Speak Up campaign to highlight the impact of recovering one third of productive water for environmental flows. She said the problems went back to the flawed 2007 Water Act. “The Basin plan is undermining our ability to be productive and for our communities to be vibrant – we rely on water to produce food, wealth, and employment opportunities,” Ms Scoullar said.
The Basin plan is undermining our ability to be productive and for our communities to be vibrant
- Shelley Scoullar
Mrs Scoullar has a 182 ha mixed cropping operation, but also said she worked with her parents, who owned another 800ha.“Rice is the backbone of our operation, it provides secure income and also adds moisture to the soil for the following cereals; this improves grain quality and quantity, along with weed, pest and disease management,” Mrs Scoullar said.
“Last year's cereals made two and a half times better return on the rice fallow.” This year she was only able to put in six hectares of rice, which would also have an impact on the wheat and barley crops.
“Our rice averages 11 to 12 t/ha dry weight, last year that meant I went close to one tonne per megalitre – last year my crop produced enough rice for 2.7 million servings – that’s just the 40 ha I grew and does not take into account the other 100ha my dad grew.”
“Peas we usually average 1.2t/ha and the wheat and barley we aim for five tonnes, on the rice fallow,” she said.
