Agriculture
5 August, 2024
Letters: Reader ire over water stance by two councillors
Please consider giving support to water, constituents Sir, After reading the article ‘Council pair refuse to back water fight’ (Loddon Herald July 25), I am not only very concerned but extremely disappointed to think our two councillors would...
Please consider giving
support to water, constituents
Sir, After reading the article ‘Council pair refuse to back water fight’ (Loddon Herald July 25), I am not only very concerned but extremely disappointed to think our two councillors would not support council and the Murray River Group of Councils.
It definitely appears that they have no feelings for at least 70 per cent of ratepayers in the Loddon Shire.
There has been $2.6 billion spent on irrigation infrastructure which in turn has delivered water savings for the environmment. This amount of water is more than the river systems can handle.
It amazes me to think what the additional water buyback of 106gl or irrigators’ water will achieve.
I believe this is all politically motivated and not at all environmentally possible.
If this unviable buyback goes ahead and water leaves our district, it could result in the demise of several irrigator farming families that have farmed in the district for generations.
Is this what Crs Jungwirth and Murphy want for their constituents?
For the future of our communities, I genuinely believe Crs Murphy and Jungwirth should consider their positions and who they represent.
It is senseless to have a pristine environment and nobody left to appreciate it.
Trevor McIntosh
Pyramid Hill
Less means higher prices
and a poorer shire
Sir, Last week’s headline ‘Council pair refuse to back water fight’ (Loddon Herald July 25) must be responded to.
The view taken by Cr Murphy and Cr Jungwirth suggests that they do not understand basic economics when they are prepared to throw away an industry that creates wealth and prosperity for the shire and country when it is so badly needed.
When the Government started buying water for the environment they said they wouldn’t mimmick nature (sounds good). But now it has more than it can use, river banks being eroded and water going out to sea with the remaining water poorly distributed.
Less water means higher prices for what remains and the flow-on effect means a poorer shire.
Commonsense must play a role and councillors should represent the people that put them there, not an idealology.
Alan Mann
Mincha West
Happy to explain how important
system is for people
Sir, On behalf of the irrigators in the Loddon Shire I would like to thank the Mayor Cr Holt and Cr Neil Beattie who recently went to Canberra to put the case against the Federal Government “buyback Scheme”, taking more water from our area.
It was then extremely disappointing to read in the Loddon Herald that this did not get 100 per cent support from two councilors.
Water is very important in the Loddon Shire as we have the largest olive set up in the Southern Hemisphere, dairying, corn crops, tomatoes, chicken farm plus other irrigated crops. This means many jobs are created in this area.
If these two councillors do not understand the importance of water to this area I would be happy to show them around and explain the water system and how important it is to the people in the Loddon Shire.
John Nelson OAM,
Boort