FEDERAL funding for infrastructure projects to lift water efficiencies in the Murray Darling Basin announced last week has been welcomed by irrigators.
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But the welcome comes with a warning that there’s still a long way to go to use all the $5.8 billion set aside in 2008 under the Water for the Future Program.
The National Irrigators Council (NIC) welcomed Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s announcement last week confirming a $1 billion commitment to upgrade irrigation work in northern Victoria.
NIC chief executive officer, Danny O’Brien said such investments were “critical” to enabling a strong future for irrigation districts and would help balance the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
Such work also had a strong flow-on benefit for regional communities generally, but it was now time for the Commonwealth to roll out other programs, including the remaining State projects it had committed to in 2008.
Water Minister, Tony Burke, also released guidelines last week for the second round of a private irrigation infrastructure program in South Australia.
He said the program would help the State’s irrigators fund for irrigation infrastructure upgrades.
“This is an opportunity for irri-gators to consider further efficiency measures in light of longer-term issues facing the Murray-Darling Basin, including a changing climate,” he said.
“This investment is part of the Gillard Government’s $5.8 billion investment in water efficiency upgrades and support for regional communities.
“I have said from the moment I became Water Minister that I wanted to deliver a plan for the Murray Darling that underscores the importance of regional communities and food production.
“I believe this funding will help achieve this.”
Opposition water spokesman, Barnaby Joyce, said Labor had “got it the wrong way round” in spending $700m more than expected on water buybacks, but $350m less than planned on infrastructure.
“Their botched basin plan process threatens jobs, communities and the family farms that provided affordable, high-quality produce for generations.”
National State Member for Barwon, Kevin Humphries, said “lazy” buybacks should be replaced by improved water delivery and storage system savings.
