Murray River takes a stand on water prices

IPART received over 200 submissions from the public in response to the recommendation.

Organisations and councils within affected areas have also continued to write to authorities and members of parliament about the effect the prices will have.

In a letter of concern addressed to NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson, Murray River Council Mayor John Harvie said the proposal would have dire consequences if successful.

“To even consider such a proposal when the entire country is facing the worst increase in the cost of living for over 60 years ... shows a fundamental lack of understanding of the financial pressures businesses, farmers and ordinary families are up against,” he said.

“If this increase is granted it will signal the death knell for many farming families and local service industries across the Murray region, resulting in significant job losses and reduced exports.”

Agriculture, farming and fisheries currently accounts for 24 per cent of the region’s workforce.

For 500ML of general security water, farmers currently pay around $7300; however, if the proposed water prices are applied, by 2029 farmers will be forking out $20,725 for the same amount.

With government water buybacks already straining the available water supply, rising water costs will compound farmers’ struggles.

According to Cr Harvie, the impacts of water shortages are already evident in the region, with communities such as Wakool losing “almost half of its population” due to water buybacks.

During Murray River Council’s March meeting, Cr Gleeson supported the mayor’s letter and said WAMC and WaterNSW were missing the mark.

“It just goes to show how far out of touch they really are ... it virtually tells us they do not want irrigation farmers, or they don’t want farmers in general,” he said.

“We cannot sustain that sort of cost ... let’s hope that they do listen.”

IPART is in the process of reviewing the submissions and relevant material, with the final report set to be released in June.