Agriculture
6 August, 2024
Unity plea on water
By CHRIS EARL VETERAN agripolitics campaigner Ken Pattison has called on two Loddon Shire councillors to back the fight against more water buybacks. The Fernihurst farmer and former Goulburn Murray Water board member has told the Loddon Herald...
By CHRIS EARL
VETERAN agripolitics campaigner Ken Pattison has called on two Loddon Shire councillors to back the fight against more water buybacks.
The Fernihurst farmer and former Goulburn Murray Water board member has told the Loddon Herald a united front is needed in the battle for future rural security.
Mr Pattison said there was disappointment in the Loddon irrigation community that two councillors abstained from last week’s vote to endorse continued campaigning by the Murray River Group of Councils.
He was among key Boort and Pyramid Hill stakeholders who attended a crisis meeting in Boort last month ahead of the start to the latest buybacks.
“I would strongly encourage Cr (Linda) Jungwirth and Cr (Wendy) Murphy to follow the informed and knowledgeable lead of other councillors in continuing to stand up for our rural communities,” he said.
“I was inspired by the depth of knowledge and the grasp of (Mayor) Gavan Holt and the CEO (Lincoln Fitzgerald) when they met with us in Boort.
“I am pleased the council voted last week to be side by side with us but we need a united front from all councillors to show commitment to the fight and to help secure the future of irrigated agriculture in the shire.
“There must be unity for there to be strength.”
Mr Pattison was critical of Crs Jungwirth and Murphy for abstaining, citing the need for fur- ther information on the Murray Darling Basin buybacks and the council group’s campaign.
“The report of the CEO clearly reflected the situation. It wasn’t complicated, confusing or hard to understand,” said Mr Pattison.
“That representatives closest to the community could not grasp the gravity of the situation the rural sector faces sent a shiver down my spine.
“I just hope that green agendas do not override duties and responsibilities to our communities ... agriculture is so important to the big picture of the Loddon Shire and its economic viability.”
Mr Pattison, an unsuccessful candidate at the 2020 Loddon Shire elections, said he would not be standing in October.
He said declared Boort Ward candidate David Weaver would offer a good knowledge and experience of agriculture to match that of retiring councillor Neil Beattie. “I hope council quickly resumes a united position on water ... it’s imperative.”