Teaming up with Goulburn Murray Irrigation District Water Leadership co-chair David McKenzie and dairy farmer Russell Pell, Ms Sheed spent countless hours travelling to meet with with Mr Burke, who was unable to attend due to unforeseen family issues.
While the team had started dialogue with Mr Burkes adviser in relation to key matters of concern for the region, Ms Sheed said they were naturally disappointed that Mr Burke was not available.
‘‘However, we have extended an invitation to Mr Burke to come to our region either during the current federal election campaign or immediately after, to hear directly from community leaders about the impact the Murray Darling Basin Plan is having on our region,’’ she said.
Ms Sheed said messages coming from the federal Labor Party about the Basin Plan were concerning and could have a serious negative impact on the northern Victorian communities.
‘‘We have seen a decline of 47 per cent in water use in the GMID putting upward pressure on GMW prices to maintain the system. At the same time, farmers capacity to pay higher water charges is diminished because owning less entitlement means they have to buy more water on the temporary market,’’ she said.
‘‘The high costs of temporary water and fodder, coupled with the drought conditions, are sending farmers in our region broke.’’
GMID Water Leadership co-chair David McKenzie said the dairy industry supply chain was already breaking down as a result of rising water costs and scarcity.
‘‘Commonwealth and Victorian governments have invested $2 billion in modernising GMID infrastructure, but falling water use and productivity is increasing the risk of these assets being left stranded,’’ Mr McKenzie said.
‘‘Not only are the impacts on the dairy industry resulting in farmers being forced to leave the industry, they will also have a flow on effect to horticulture in our region.’’
While many farmers are struggling to stay on the land, dairy farmer Russell Pell said the local environment was also facing challenges, particularly as a result of the high rate of inter-valley transfers and additional environmental flows through the Goulburn River system.
‘‘The volume of summer water transfers down the Goulburn River has tripled in recent years and steady high flows are drowning vegetation established to stabilise the banks,’’ Mr Pell said.
‘‘It seems ridiculous that under a plan designed to support a triple bottom line of environmental, social and economic welfare, the health of our river system would be sacrificed for the sake of sending water further downstream for consumptive and environmental use.’’
With the future of food-producing basin communities under threat Ms Sheed urged Mr Burke to visit the region to hear from local voices.
‘‘Water is the backbone of our community and the politicians and bureaucrats in Canberra need to understand how their decisions will impact our communities,’’ Ms Sheed said.
‘‘We cannot let our voices go unheard and we will continue to fight to ensure our region is protected from any further loss of water and that environmental water is put to its best use.’’
