WEEKLY BULLETIN

REGISTER TODAY FOR THE QFF POLICY FORUM

WITH just over two weeks remaining until the QFF Policy Forum, now is the time to register. Registration forms and a full agenda are available at the QFF website or by contacting the office on (07) 3837 4747. This year’s forum is titled Planning for Growth – People, Places, and Potential.

QFF SEEKS RESPONSE FROM PREMIER ON SUNWATER PRICES

QFF has written to the Premier outlining growing opposition in all SunWater schemes to the Qld Government’s decision to seek a rate of return on scheme headworks. QFF highlighted that irrigators are finding it difficult to understand the Qld Government’s decision, as they believe an enforcement of a rate of return will render many schemes (and farms) unviable. QFF has asked the Premier to request QCA to provide early advice on the likely impacts of a rate of return on scheme prices. QFF will not support a price setting process which leaves SunWater customers uncertain about an issue that could significantly affect the price of water recommended by the QCA. It was also pointed out that the implications of the rate of return had to be understood before consultations on scheme operating costs were conducted from September. QFF’s letter also raised concerns about declining levels of service from SunWater and proposed that local management of schemes is a significant issue that needs to be addressed to allow the effective implementation of price paths particularly in channel schemes.

WENTWORTH REPORT COPS A BEATING

WITH the draft Murray Darling Basin plan due in July, the Wentworth Group of scientists has released a report that has sparked frustration from irrigator groups across the nation’s food bowl. The report has attempted to provide suggestions of what the Sustainable Diversion Limits could be under the Basin Plan.
For Queensland irrigators, it makes the suggestion that 120 gigalitres (17pc) should be removed from current diversions in the Condamine-Balonne and 14.8GL (3.6pc) from the Border Rivers. According to the report, the SDL for the entire Basin should equate to a Cap of about 7200GL, which would mean that from the current diversions 4400GL would need to be returned to the environment. To put that in perspective, the buyback program has to date acquired 880GL according to the latest figures from the Department of Environment (meaning that this purchase would be just one-fifth of this 4400GL).
QFF believes the report is dangerously divergent from the process of water reform and offers suggestions that would be economically and socially disastrous for many regional communities dependent on irrigation. QFF and other stakeholders have been working with the MDBA and government over an extended period with the aim of ensuring SDLs do not cripple regional irrigation communities. This report, arriving at the 11th hour, is a distraction from the real process.
Recent Cotton CRC studies have suggested that the government purchase of just 790GL of water could cause the loss of between 1660 and 1820 jobs. Extrapolating that further could mean that total job losses under the removal of 4400GL could be above 10,000 jobs, which would be a devastating outcome for all concerned, including the government.

MINISTER GARRETT TO OPEN REEF SHOWCASE THIS WEEK

THE Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett will this week open the inaugural Reef Rescue showcase event to be held in Cairns on June 8 and 9. It will be an opportunity for the Minister to hear firsthand from producers about the success of the program. The event is being coordinated in partnership by QFF and the Regional Groups Collective. Reef Rescue is a $200 million five-year initiative, funded by the Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country Program. Reef Rescue aims to improve the quality of water flowing into the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon. The Reef Rescue Showcase is a joint initiative of Queensland Regional NRM Groups Collective and QFF.

MEMBER NEWS

BALLANTYNE TO STEP DOWN AT CANEGROWERS

AFTER more than 19 years at the helm of one of Australia’s most iconic agricultural organisations, Canegrowers CEO, Ian Ballantyne, has announced that he will spend the next three months bringing some of the big issues on the boil closer to finalisation, before standing back from full time executive responsibility. Chairman Alf Cristaudo confirmed that Ian had formally given three months notice at the recent Board meeting of Queensland Cane Growers Organisation Limited. Ian thanked the current and previous chairmen, boards, staff members and members of the Canegrowers organisation for giving him the opportunity to play a major role during the past nineteen-plus years. Alf Cristaudo said that Ian Ballantyne had made an enormously positive contribution to the organisation and indeed the industry as a whole during his tenure, and on behalf of the Board, the staff and members has thanked him for his contribution and wishes him well in his future endeavours.

PROTECTING HORTICULTURE WITHIN THE URBAN GROWTH STRATEGY

GROWCOM Chief Executive Officer Alex Livingstone said the best way for Premier Anna Bligh to preserve “green wedges” between urban areas was to provide the policy settings which would encourage the ongoing development of horticulture and other agriculture in order to feed growing populations in the future. Mr Livingstone was referring to a statement by Ms Bligh where cane-fields and other land in south east Queensland into “green wedges” to avoid urban sprawl between our cities. “The government has released a discussion paper on the protection of strategic cropping land. In horticulture’s case that land is often very close to the urban fringe. The Premier should recognise and plan for the considerable advantages of having fresh food production close to burgeoning populations. These areas should be encouraged to thrive and cater for the nutritional needs of more people in the future,” Mr Livingstone said. Mr Livingstone said the past mistakes of urban development which had seen the loss of arable farmland with good soil fed with plentiful water and close to available markets such as existed in the Redland Bay region south of Brisbane should not be repeated.

OTHER NEWS

LNP PLEDGES TO PROTECT GROUNDWATER

THE Liberal National Party has stated that it would protect groundwater and aquifers including those of the Great Artesian Basin, in reference to the expanding mineral and resource industry in Queensland. Shadow Minister for Primary Industries said the aim was to ensure irreparable damage was not done in the pursuit of short term profits. The five-point policy includes:
• A charter of property rights relating to land and water rights being based on science;
• A commission for future food and fibre, an independent commission that will advise the government on priority investment areas and the strategic targeting of new, growing and emerging market opportunities;
• Protecting prime agricultural land (having the most productive ag land scientifically identified and off-limits to mining;
• A Rural Water Advisory Panel, which will include community involvement in monitoring and reporting any impacts of the CSG industry upon aquifers and river systems;
• A ‘Resourcing Our Regions’ policy to ensure regions share in the investment made as a result of mineral-industry wealth.

WATER FOR THE FUTURE – COMMUNITY INFORMATION SESSIONS

THE Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts is holding updates on its water policy programs in Toowoomba later this month. Senior officers will give a short general presentation on Water for the Future from 2pm, followed by an open question and answer session. The meeting will then break into groups to discuss topics of interest which will include water purchasing, environmental watering and infrastructure upgrades.
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry will also be attending the sessions to answer questions relating to the Basin Plan and drought assistance measures. The session is on Thursday June 17 from 2pm – 5.30pm, at the Toowoomba Motel and Events Centre, 2 Burnage Street. Please register your interest and advise what you want raised by phoning 1800 218 478 or e-mailing waterinformation@environment.gov.au