mmg.com.au

Federal Water Minister Tony Burke honoured his promise to join local farmers Andrew and Louise Burge on a tour of local water system constraints.

Mr Burke made the promise at the Murray Darling Basin Authority’s public consultation meeting in Deniliquin in December.

The Burges, who have a property between Deniliquin and Tocumwal, have repeatedly voiced concerns that under the draft basin plan, system constraints will hinder the delivery of environmental water and cause flooding.

Mrs Burge said the minister took ‘‘considerable time’’ to listen to their concerns.

‘‘This is not just a personal issue, this affects large areas of the Berrigan, Murray, Conargo, Wakool Shires where property access can be restricted by delivery of environmental flows,’’ she said.

‘‘In 2010/11 our property was cut in half, arising from natural high river events topped up with environmental flows.

‘‘The issue of property access being cut had significant economic impacts in harvesting our wheat.

‘‘The MDBA need to be aware of what sort of impacts the delivery of environmental flows can have.’’

Mrs Burge said the flows could also mean major flood risks for local towns.

She said the tour on Thursday morning was ‘‘very productive’’.

‘‘He came out to our farm and we just showed him a few maps of the forest and creeks and we showed him our low lying creek crossing, and some of our levee system. (We) explained to him the increased risk of flooding if the plan goes ahead,’’ Mr Burge said.

‘‘And also the fact that along the Bullatale (Creek) most farms have got low level crossings.

‘‘Anything over 20,000 megalitres below Yarrawonga will cut us off from access to the other side of our farms on the other side of the creek.

‘‘When the Bullatale floods so does Cobram, so does Toc, so does Deni, Echuca, Barham. Everyone is impacted.’’

The Burges, along with Murray Catchment Management Authority program manager Gary Rodda, then took Mr Burke to the forest at Picnic Point, Mathoura.

‘‘(We) just showed him the Murray (River) there and how low the banks are,’’ Mr Burge said.

‘‘We were just explaining to (Mr Burke) that there are system constraints and there are third party impacts,’’ Mr Burge said.

‘‘He was keen to find out more about that.

‘‘I also raised the issue that with the delivery of environmental water being shepherded down the river we could have the situation where there’s not much room for productive water.

‘‘I explained to him that irrigation farms need to have reasonably early announcements so they can plan their spring and summer watering and cropping programs.’’

Mr Burge said he appreciated Mr Burke honouring his promise to visit, and said the minister was ‘‘very receptive’’.

‘‘I think it was an eye-opener to him.’’