Victorian farmers have called on the State government to deliver a stock and domestic water plan, in the wake of long-term decline in south-east Australia’s rainfall runoff.
“Since the early 1990s we’ve seen a decline in rainfall runoff that has led to more frequent water shortages, forcing farmers to cut stock numbers, cart water or put in emergency pipelines,” Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) stock and domestic water taskforce chairman Peter Delahunty said.
“We’re grateful that the State government has stepped in to fund a number of feasibility studies into stock and domestic water pipelines across the state.
“But now we need to take the next step and deliver a stock and domestic water strategy for the state.”
He said the government needed to ensure the plan, currently being developed, took stock and domestic water shortages into account.
The draft plan, released in May didn’t do that, and Mr Delahunty said the VFF believed a stock and domestic water strategy was the way to go.
The VFF’s call followed a survey, which showed stock water shortages had forced farmers to reduce stock numbers, sell stock when the market was not ideal and expend resources on sourcing alternative water supplies.
Meanwhile, Water minister Lisa Neville said the government was continuing discussions with key stakeholders, about components of the plan.
“The Water Plan is looking at how we can best balance agricultural, industry, urban, recreational and environmental water use for the decades to come,” Ms Neville said.
“Part of this consultation process considers the impact of water shortages on stock and domestic supply, and how landholders can manage their supplies.
“We continue to involve the Victorian Farmers Federation in these discussions.”
Ms Neville said it was expected the plan would be released towards the end of the year.
Nearly 300 farmers across Victoria completed the survey, underlining the importance of the issue among primary producers.
Western and Central Victoria were revealed as areas most vulnerable to shortages and had been hit hardest in recent times, but all farmers across the state have experienced shortages in the past 24 months.
Mr Delahunty said the survey results supported the organisation’s call for a stock and domestic water strategy.
“Stock water shortages are becoming more prevalent right across Victoria - regions we thought were safe from shortages ran out of water last summer,” Mr Delahunty said.
“We need long-term vision from government to help the agriculture industry adapt to seasonal variability and changing rainfall patterns.”
Farmers who responded to the survey identified numerous benefits of a secure stock water supply, including:
· Healthy stock;
· Domestic benefits;
· Maintaining stock numbers over summer;
· Maintaining stock to take advantage of market conditions;
· Less stress;
· Peace of mind; and
· Having good quality water for spraying
“The value of a secure good quality stock and domestic water supply applies to the farm business as well as the farming family,” Mr Delahunty said.
“Secure water can benefit the health of your stock as well as the wellbeing of yourself and your family.”
The survey results demonstrated the security provided by large scale scheme stock water systems, such as the Wimmera-Mallee Pipeline, Northern Mallee Pipeline and the Goulburn Murray Water system, as well as smaller schemes such as the Normanville, Eppalock and East Loddon Pipelines.
Opportunity existed for the State government to fund and encourage on-farm and off-farm water infrastructure, to fill the gaps in Victoria’s stock water supply network and assist Victorian farmers in preparing for dry conditions.
“This investment could boost Victorian farm productivity through the delivery of more secure stock water sources – such an initiative would greatly benefit the red meat, dairy and intensive industries,” Mr Delahunty said.
