Saturday, Mar 06, 2010 at 12:00
Hi Kev
I agree with most of what you are saying here. Cubbie is an obvious target simply because it is the biggest. It is also reasonable to claim that much of the water allocation down south here in SA was also virtually gifted to the irrigators, so Cubbie is not alone here.
Irrigation is a necessary part of our economy, but whether it's by flood, center pivot or dripper, everyone should pay the same per MgL AT THE TAKE-OFF POINT from the river.
It used to be that Cubbie only paid $3,700 per annum for its license of 460 gig or whatever. Probably still the case.
The reason that I am going on about this - in the middle of a huge flood in
St George - is that in the next few weeks a lot of critical decisions about water diversion will be made in QLD and NSW.
There needs to be pressure to keep enough water to 'reset' the river system - not just create an agricultural bonanza in the above states.
Then there may be enough water for
Menindee, anabranch, wetlands all along the river and lower lakes.
The lower end of the Murray is starting to look like Lake
Eyre. If this salt isn't flushed out, then the Murray will die from the mouth backwards, including all the high value fruit and vine plantings that return much more in terms of money - and jobs.
cheers
Tony
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