Irrigators want a Critical Industry Cluster zoning declared across their most productive, asset intensive land – matching the protections granted to the viticulture and thoroughbred industries in the Upper Hunter Valley last year.
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Pressure is mounting on the NSW government to act on calls from Riverina irrigators’ demanding protection from coal seam gas, with Federal MP Michael McCormack lending his voice to State colleague Adrian Piccoli’s support last week for gas no-go zones.
Irrigators want a Critical Industry Cluster (CIC) zoning declared across their most highly productive, asset intensive land – matching the protections granted to the viticulture and thoroughbred industries in the Upper Hunter Valley last year.
Mr McCormack said he had written to NSW Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson, seeking to have the Murrumbidgee and Coleambally Irrigation Areas in the Riverina zoned to be free of gas development.
“I believe given the enormous contribution the Riverina makes to the nation’s food and fibre production and food security, it is critically important this region is protected from activities which threaten its capacity to produce food and fibre to feed and clothe the nation and the world.”
The government’s CIC policy was established following heavy pressure from the Hunter’s powerful wine and horse breeding industries.
They had been knocked back on their initial application for CIC recognition by the Department of Primary Industries last year, which advised as there was no immediate threat from gas development, no-go zones do not apply.
Irrigators were shocked back into action when Grainger Resources applied for an exploration licence across much of the region’s best irrigation country.
The Government’s determination on Grainger’s application is due in February.
No-go zones ban gas development, but do not preclude exploration activities.
Rice Growers Association executive director Ruth Wade is lobbying the government for gas bans.
However, the association is not calling for blanket bans in the district, but guaranteed protections for key irrigation assets.
She said even exploration activity was incompatible with the high cost, asset intensive irrigation in the district.
Ms Wade said irrigation operations were “extremely expensive”, involving laser levelled paddocks where water runs within a millimetre depth over an entire property, which comprises “extensive, sophisticated earthworks”.
“If exploration licences are granted we would like to see careful consideration before access to a high intensity irrigation farms,” she said.
“The government must respect what is already there and understand you cant just walk in and interfere and not have some ongoing impacts.
“Exploration can be invasive. If they drop down a test bore or well in an irrigation area, that is unacceptable unless the farmer is happy to see them.”
Mike Foley
Senior journalist for The Land.
Senior journalist for The Land.
