It is very disappointing because all we are calling for is to work together for good practical outcomes. 

Not only do we have to deal with the MDBA but also the NSW State Government’s Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH).

This department is in direct conflict with the Department of Primary Industries (DPI).

The DPI has a vision to increase the growth of agricultural production by 30 per cent in the next four years.

This is difficult when OEH have their foot on producers’ necks and are operating in social isolation.

Premier Baird must be shaking his head!

In 2002 we were coerced into to contributing water entitlement to the state government on the proviso that it would be reviewed after one year and then again after five years.

Time has passed and these “Voluntary Contributions” (VC) were just rolled into what now is the State Water Sharing Plans with no review.

OEH was gifted much of this acquired water and despite the fact that most of it was General Security Entitlement, these significant parcels of water have the highest priority in any watering year.

However, irrigators are still required to pay the fixed fees and charges for this water.

Allocation announcements in our valleys are impeded at the start of each season to cover off these amounts. 

Irrigators bear the financial burden for providing politically inspired, ecological goods and services.

Is this fair or reasonable?

OEH manages this acquired water with little transparency or accountability.

There has been no socio-economic monitoring or research to quantify the impact on NSW communities.

OEH has the ability to sell water to cover costs.

This water is being sold back to regional rural communities at inflated prices when it was originally allocated to communities in the first instance.

Is this fair or reasonable?

We now have the overarching MDBP where we watch federal government buying up vast amounts of productive water and squirrelling it away resulting in allocation announcements being further impeded.

Enough is enough!

There are way too many ideologically opposed government agencies interfering with each other.

It’s well past time for an audit of the functions and purpose of departments like OEH.

An eminently fair place to start would be to reimburse the Voluntary Contributions.

Helen Dalton and Debbie Buller have written a series of articles on the district’s water woes that will published in The Area News every second Friday. 

The next instalment from the Women for a Living Basin (W4LB) representatives will be published on Friday, December 11.

W4LB was formed by Mrs Dalton, who wanted politicians to be aware of women’s thoughts on the plan.

A Senate hearing into the plan was held in Griffith recently.