WATER Minister Bill Marmion has officially declared a livestock water deficiency for the Salmon Gums locality in the Shire of Esperance.
The declaration follows an assessment of Salmon Gums’ water needs by the Department of Water and the Department of Agriculture and Food (WA).
“Due to low rainfall the Salmon Gums locality in the Shire of Esperance is experiencing major livestock water supply shortages with a large number of the district’s farmers carting water from the Quarry Dam that is drying up,” Mr Marmion said.
“Under the Government policy relating to the provision of emergency farmland water, we will arrange for water to be carted to Quarry Dam so the farmers in that locality will have access to emergency livestock water.
“Water cartage into the Quarry Dam will begin within two weeks. The water will be supplied from the Water Corporation standpipes at Norseman.”
This is the second water deficiency declaration for a dryland farming area this year. The Shire of Kent was declared deficient in February.
The Minister said the State Government encouraged all dryland farmers to look at their water capture and containment systems to make sure they were in good condition with the capability to capture as much rain as possible.
“Government sponsored emergency supplies are here to support farmers when on-farm supplies run out,” he said.
