General security irrigators in the Murrumbidgee Valley will get 20 per cent allocation and high security will get 95 per cent. 

Under 12-year-old water rules, rainfall flows must be released from Burrinjuck and Blowering dams to the environment. In June there was a chorus of outrage across the Riverina when a huge amount of water was released during a week of heavy rain.

As a result Burrinjuck Dam was 58.4 per cent full on June 30, but farmers, politicians and businessmen said it could have been higher.

Griffith Business Chamber water spokesman Paul Pierotti called the releases “destructive and inexcusable”. 

“The result of not capturing and storing close to the highest rainfall June in history is a paltry 20 per cent allocation,” he said. “This restricts production in our region and permanently damages our economy. It’s time our politicians stood up and stopped this rubbish.”

Murrami farmer Deb Buller said politicians, industry groups and farmers had all said translucent flows were “crazy, outdated and unnecessary”. 

“(Some of) these elected representatives hold important cabinet and ministerial positions and claim we are lucky that they do, but if we all agree this is crazy and it’s negatively affecting our communities for zero environmental benefits, why is it still happening?” Mrs Buller asked.

Member for Murray Adrian Piccoli said the rules were “stupid”.

“It would be front page of both Sydney newspapers if Warragamba Dam was only half full and inflows were flowing straight out and rightly so,” he said. 

“Legal advice to the NSW government has confirmed that the rules cannot be changed by the NSW minister. Since the Commonwealth took over water legislation with the Water Act only they can change these stupid rules and they must do it immediately.”

Griffith mayor John Dal Broi said irrigators were left wondering how full the dams had be to receive a “decent” allocation.

“Regional irrigation communities are having difficulty coming to terms with the concept of translucent flows particularly in a year with above average rainfall,” he said. 

“The release of 9000ML per day out of Burrinjuck Dam equates to approximately the annual water use of seven average large area farms per year that would grow cotton, cereals and rice.

“The loss of production can only be described as totally irresponsible by bureaucrats with absolutely no understanding of the financial implications to individual farmers and the communities that service the irrigation industry.”