Mitchell Clapham is the NSW Farmers' Conservation and Resource management committee chairman
NSW Farmers has welcomed continued funding of the Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative by both the federal and State governments.
Funding for phase three of the initiative had been suspended in June when federal funding ran dry.
The federal government has now announced continued funding and the NSW government has confirmed it is positioned to match the $15.9 million commitment.
The cap and pipe the bores program is the NSW component of the initiative.
It began in 1999 as a partnership between the NSW government, the Commonwealth government and landholders to rehabilitate the NSW portion of the Great Artesian Basin.
The program has enjoyed huge successes to date, providing public benefits, positive environmental outcomes as well as benefits to agricultural operations.
A vast amount of re-pressurisation has occurred as a direct result of the capping and piping done to date.
The program has given landholders the opportunity to strategically locate water points which provide improvements to the management and health of livestock, a reduction in labour costs and the maximisation of pasture production.
It is also apparent the program has been successful in terms of feral animal control and in particular the reduced amount of uncontrolled water has had positive impacts on the number of feral pigs.
There is still a lot more work to be completed.
The NSW Office of Water has found as many as 240 artesian bores remain flowing unchecked and in poor condition and a potential 26,600 megalitres a year in further water savings could be realised.
It was crucial the program be funded into the future to carry out the extra work.
We are also aware of landholders who are carting water frequently and at great distances who would benefit from inclusion in the scheme and there are a number of landholders who have applied for and were unsuccessful in obtaining a part of the limited funding available in the previous financial year.
It is fortunate they will have the opportunity to apply again.
We are pleased in both times of severe drought and a tight budget governments are supporting the vast efficiency gains to be had with the continuation of this program.
If landholders in the area have particular feedback please contact us: nswfarmers.org.au
