January 29 2015
South Burnett Deputy Mayor Keith Campbell would like to see Gina Rinehart’s Hope Dairies project become a springboard for the introduction of more irrigated farming in the South Burnett.
Cr Campbell told Wednesday’s Council meeting the Hope Dairies project would require a “significant” water supply and said he would like to see any solution extended to other agricultural producers in the region.
“At present we have very little irrigation in the South Burnett, and many producers have told me they could lift their production substantially if they had greater access to water,” Cr Campbell said.
“We have very productive farmlands that can produce peanuts, sorghum, corn, beans, vegetables, stone fruit, citrus and many other crops. But water is the major constraint holding our farmers back.
“I would like to see South Burnett Directions form an agriculture sub-committee and press this issue with the State Government.
“While I don’t think it would be possible to extend irrigation to the entire region, I do think it would be possible to increase the extent of irrigated land.
“This wouldn’t just be good for our farms – it would be good for the region’s economy as a whole.”
Cr Barry Green agreed.
Cr Green said agriculture was the region’s biggest industry and farmers who were using limited irrigation in the Kumbia and Barker Creek areas were “doing very well”.
“You only have to look at places like Sunraysia or the Murray Valley to see what irrigation can do for agriculture and regional economies.”
Speaking after the meeting, Cr Campbell told southburnett.com.au the Hope Dairies project would likely require some assistance from the State Government to meet its water requirements.
“There are a lot of very good agricultural operators in our region,” he said.
“But while they may belong to State or national industry groups, they don’t have any peak group to represent them on a regional level at the moment.
“I’d like to see South Burnett Directions form an agriculture sub-committee to take up this issue with the government. And I’d like to see local producers organise themselves around this issue and elect spokespeople to work with SBD.
“This isn’t about what might be good for individual producers – it’s about what would be good for the South Burnett’s regional economy as a whole.”
Cr Campbell said while he understood building a new dam in the region was probably out of the question, he felt certain there were other water capture options that could be explored.
“Hope Dairies is a golden opportunity to bring this issue up.”
Related articles:
