Grievance Debate

Mallee Prescribed Wells Area Water Allocation Plan

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (16:53): Today I rise to speak about a new part of the electorate of Chaffey, which is the Mallee, and I would like to talk about the Mallee Wells water allocation plan. The water allocation plan was adopted in 2012 and it has had serious impact on industry. It has had serious impact on the region's food production, specifically its potato, onion, carrot and vegetable production.

The towns that will be impacted by this water allocation plan are Alawoona, Peebinga, Halidon, Karoonda, Lameroo, Geranium, Pinnaroo and, in particular, Parilla. Parilla is probably the area that is most seriously affected by this Mallee Wells WAP, and it has been lumbered with this water allocation plan that has inequity and has been inconsistent in its release and introduction into what is considered one of the prime broadacre horticulture regions in this country.

The implementation of the WAP does not match the studies, input and recommendations put to the department. The recommendations have been ignored. The experts on the ground—the scientists and the people with the knowledge—gave their input to the department on just exactly how that WAP will be implemented. At the moment, there is a 9,000 megalitre PAV and they have allocated only 7,000 megalitres. It has confused the industry and confused the growers, because no-one at this moment knows exactly what their allocations are going to be. Over time, that allocation has changed.

From one property to the next property there are different allocations and different restrictions. I have spoken to many growers who have had their entire allocation taken away from them. Some farmers have had between 50 per cent and 30 per cent of their allocation taken away from them. I guess it is good management to look at how we can safely draw that underground water from the aquifer, but the confusion is running rife.

Over time, when I was the new member for the region, I consulted with the member for Hammond (because Hammond was previously part of the Southern Mallee). Steven Marshall, the member for Dunstan, has engaged with the growers—

The SPEAKER: I think we will just call him the member for Dunstan.

Mr WHETSTONE: The member for Dunstan has engaged with industry and growers and has listened, unlike the department and the current minister. The member for Dunstan has seen the issues and has sought a moratorium on the implementation of that water allocation plan. That is a commitment he put to those people prior to the last state election, and they were buoyed by the consultation that he and this party gave them.

That region is the largest fresh washed potato growing area in the Southern Hemisphere. They are producing 80 per cent of the nation's fresh potatoes. The businesses developed by that water allocation plan are in disarray. People are not able to extend their management plans and cannot look into the future with any knowledge of just exactly what it is going to mean. I will read the report from HAL (Horticulture Australia Ltd), and it states:

The reduction in allocation is extreme, sudden and unjustified by the current or likely long-term resource condition…and a review of the allocation assignments with a view to a more equitable distribution across the management and border sharing areas is recommended.

At the moment, we are dealing with a department headed by a minister who is not prepared to engage in any form of consultation with those growers. The potato and onion industries are in disarray because they do not know exactly. As I said, $171 million is generated in that region by fresh washed potatoes, and I think it is outrageous. The industry has engaged the Australian Groundwater Technologies group to carry out a review of that water allocation plan.

Time expired.