Sir Grappler Truth Teller OAM wrote on Oct 28
th, 2019 at 10:32pm:
Let's get off Ayers Rock and Koori silliness over its closure, and get to something real..... dancing up and down and crowing will bring a reaction... grow up:-
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-13/water-trade-in-murray-darling-basin-has-u...
Water trading's 'unintended' consequences across Australia's southern Murray-Darling Basin
There's a sense something is not right among the farmers of the southern Murray-Darling Basin.
Key points:
Anyone can buy and trade water in Australia, and 14 per cent of trades each year are by individuals or corporates that don't own land.
The Federal Government has promised a competition study of Australia's $2-billion water trade
Irrigators in the southern basin say the water market is having unintended consequences on their local economies and the river.
It is not just drought, they say, that is testing livelihoods. It is the system.
The Murray-Darling Basin's $2 billion water trade — introduced to recognise the value of the resource and provide farmers with greater flexibility — is shifting economies and changing the landscape.
At the request of the Federal Government, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is about to study the trade.
Some say what is happening across the southern basin is simply the result of free trade and the commodification of water.
Others describe it as a failed experiment.
The Murray-Darling Basin Plan makes it clear that the river is a national asset to be managed in the national interest.
But on a recent trip up the river, the ABC found a growing number who believe the unintended consequences of water trading are challenging that promise.
Read the rest.
Watched Q & A tonight (partly) and was totally in agreement with the two Kooris who came on and put their case... why is water being sold as a commodity while this process is destroying towns and farms and killing people and environments....
My view is "how dare anyone market water, which is a national asset?"
One of these blokes is from an area where the average male lifespan among Kooris is 37 ... 37 ... 37 .... and they can't catch fish or yabbies any more... no water...
The other bloke was adamant about the impact of greed and the flawed idea that water can be sold etc... he speaks my language ....
Watched it last night too ..... Fiona Simpson may as well be a politician.
Water researcher Maryanne Slattery had to speak up & ask her if she could finish her view point after being cut off & rebuffed by Simpson the first time she said anything.
Slattery says the MDBP is a disaster and caters to corporate agriculture.
Much the same message as old tribal paint Koori mate was trying to make ...... only he went OTT with his rant.
It was good to see the Lawyer in the audience right or wrong get to & make David Littleproud squirm over politicians declaring interests or conflicts of interest because of family involvement in water trading.
I also watched Landline yesterday ... of interest was the segment on the business of supplying of Bees for pollination of fruit & nut crops from Victoria to QLD.
The most notable thing in this segment was it's big focus on the expanding Almond nut corporate orchards in the Murray basin in Victoria & NSW.
It's beyond huge ..... they spoke of a new farm on the go that will be 8,000 acres.
As for growing water reliant crops like cotton & rice causing water usage problems remember .... both use water to a certain stage then it stops ...
1. because cotton is sprayed to make the plant die off & dry prior to harvest.
2. to dry out the ground to allow the harvest of the rice.
Irrigation of vast Almond farms is a constant .... 24/7 from planting the seedling trees & throughout its growth through it's productive life which is 25 to 30 years.
Quote:• Approx. 200 growers in 4 states (SA, Vic, NSW & WA)
• The current orchard area is 30,200 Ha’s. (74,000 acres)
• Further major plantings over next 3 years will increase
the orchard area by + 15,000 Ha’s. (37,000 acres) requiring
significant capital investment
• Interest from Australian / overseas investors and further
expansion by existing growers.
• Production is estimated to lift to 130,000mt by 2025
• This investment along in the Murray Darling Basin is
worth over +$1.0 billion including water entitlements.
• Current water use by the almond industry is 400,000
megalitres or around 14 megalitres per Ha for mature
orchards.
• Almonds provide one the highest returns per water use
Australian Almond Industry
• More than 91% of orchards are drip irrigated with
the remainder under micro sprinklers.
• Water is sourced from the Murray River and
tributaries under a metered, $$ allocation system.
• Established water market for permanent sale or
leasing of annual water entitlement.
• Currently the industry invests $3 million pa in R&D
looking to boost to $7 million to develop production
systems best adapted to Australian conditions and
better suited to the changing climatic and work
environment in future Australia.
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/outlook/Documents/horticulture-woolston.pdfThere is where the big drain on water is coming from & it will increase.
These big farms are owned by foreign corporates & they are trading buying the allocations forcing the price up.
Forum
Pages: 1
Water trading's 'unintended' consequences ... (Read 807 times)
