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The Nationals Federal Member for Mallee John Forrest says he is dismayed Federal Water Minister Penny Wong is playing with the lives of 219 Wimmera irrigators by brick-walling a sale of water proposal.
“This is part of the reason I want the $25 million of Federal money still owing on the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline project,” Mr Forrest said.
“The Wimmera Irrigators Association had offered the Commonwealth some 28,000 megalitres of water entitlements at $1600 a megalitre but this was knocked back.
“Surely, if the price was thought too high, Ms Wong and her cohorts could have got out there and met with these irrigators and tried to hammer out a deal,” Mr Forrest said.
“As it is, it appears the Wimmera Irrigators Association is being forced to go, cap in hand, and plead for a sale outcome.
“These poor people haven’t had a real supply of irrigation water for about 10 years and I would have thought that now the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline is operational with associated water savings, that the 28,000 megalitres of water entitlements would have a higher value today than six months ago.
“It disappoints me how the economic value of water is dictated by the commercial market place and does not take into account the environmental, economic and social benefits.
“Clearly, when you consider the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline and the value of water saved, the value is a lot more that $1600 a megalitre.
“I urge Minister Wong to show some compassion and talk to her bureaucrats and get some discussion happening so these good people at Horsham can find a way forward,” Mr Forrest said.
Mr Forrest can be contacted on 0428 500 186.
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