IRRIGATORS and communities in the area are relieved the Federal Government is finally living up to an election promise to limit its water buyback scheme, which has cost up to as many as 400 jobs locally.
On Tuesday, Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment Bob Baldwin made the announcement the government would introduce legislation to cap water buybacks in the Murray-Darling to 1500 gigalitres.
However, Mr Baldwin would not commit to a timeframe for when the legislation would be introduced, saying it first needed Labor’s support for it to happen.
Wakool Shire Council mayor Neil Gorey was pleased with the decision, saying the scheme caused a loss of business to the area as some irrigators looked to sell off their water and leave.
“Every megalitre of water [taken out] takes $250 away from the community,” Cr Gorey said.
“It’s been about 400 jobs so far [that have been lost] in the Wakool area. Our population has also decreased from around 4800 down to about 4000.”
For more on this story, grab a copy of Wednesday’s Guardian (March 11).
