Local irrigators are hitting back over the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s latest snub that could cost growers tens of thousands of dollars.
Producers in the Bundaberg region have been ordered to revalidate their meters by November 2023 as outlined in the Queensland non-urban water measurement policy implementation plan.
Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett said the policy shows just how out of touch the Palaszczuk Labor Government is with regional Queensland.
“The Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water already knows the revalidation is simply not needed in our region with an almost perfect level of compliance according to their own surveys,” said Mr Bennett.
“We just can’t trust this government or anything they say.
“Their ignorance will cost our region and our growers dearly.
“Cost of living pressures are mounting, and this additional demand will add an unnecessary burden to our already stretched farmers.”
An excerpt of correspondence from the department to the Coastal Burnett Groundwater Management Area Advisory Committee (CBGMAAC) states:
‘Following water accounting of groundwater use in the Coastal Burnett GMA for the 2021-22 water year, the department has identified a very low level (0.2%) of non-compliance of take of groundwater with authorised entitlement.
There was also a very low level (0.6%) of non-compliance with Meter Reading Notices issued to groundwater entitlement holders by the department under Section 113 of the Water Regulation 2016’
Shadow Minister for Water and the Construction of Dams Deb Frecklington said the chaos and crisis of the Palaszczuk Government knew no bounds.
“It is clear Labor’s latest changes have been completely rushed through and not fully thought out.
“The cost of implementation to primary producers is a major concern, and feedback from many submitters has suggested government funding will not be sufficient.
“Labor’s changes completely fail to consider the fact landholders using water for low risk takes are unlikely to result in water entitlements being exceeded.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government is in a constant state of chaos and crisis and because of this they have stopped listening to Queenslanders.
CBGMAAC Chair Allan Dingle said they have rational and reasonable suggestions on the table.
“Commonsense needs to be used in this decision,” he said.
“We’ve met with representatives from the Department and requested an extension to the deadline and were advised that because the metering requirement has been legislated there is little scope for anything.
“We suggested that the Department undertake the validation process, and any meter amendments / infrastructure required and recover the costs by way of an annual charge.
“This was the procedure used in 2012/13 when the existing meters were upgraded.
“Unfortunately, this isn’t an option either as the Department says they have insufficient staff capable of doing the assessment and no accredited meter validators.
“A complete rethink and amending the regulation is warranted given that the exercise will cost more than $2 million to achieve very little if anything.”
ENDS.
04-07-2023