It was part of the government’s drought package, announced yesterday. Small businesses and rural towns are set for an immediate cash injection to keep businesses open, keep locals in work and pump funds into local economies through the he Drought Response, Resilience and Preparedness Plan.
Under the discount water proposal, the Government has struck a deal worth almost $100 million, under which the South Australian Government will turn on its desalination plant to service Adelaide, leaving 100 gigalitres to be used to grow fodder upstream.
There has been concern that the desalination plant was not being used during drought, especially as it was largely funded by the Federal Government.
According to reports yesterday afternoon, Drought Minister David Littleproud described it as a unique deal that would provide up to 6000 farmers with access to 25 megalitres each, which must be used to grow feed for livestock.
The water will be offered to irrigators at $100 per megalitre and delivered by April 30.
‘‘This is one step towards making sure that we think outside the square, bringing new water into the (Murray-Darling) Basin, to make sure that we use it wisely, to ensure that all our breeding herd is protected,’’ Mr Littleproud said.
Providing emergency or subsidised water to farmers had previously been requested by local advocates, but without success.
While the package has been widely applauded, Blighty dairy farmer Lachlan Marshall says he is still sceptical.
‘‘Unfortunately, from what I understand, there is a lot of devil in the detail yet to come out before we see what it can actually do for rural communities,’’ he said.
‘‘This was something we put to the Federal Government 12 months ago so it is a shame it has come six to eight weeks too late to secure spring fodder,’’ he said.
He said there were unanswered questions, such as how they are going to roll it out, how they are going to stop speculators from buying and selling the water for profit and how it is going to be equitable.
Mr Littleproud said the 100 gigalitres will produce up to 120,000 tonnes of feed for animals on farms in drought.
‘‘This will help farmers maintain their breeding stock during the drought so when it breaks farmers can recover faster,’’ he said.
Mr Littleproud added that as the drought escalates, so does the government’s response.
‘‘The package will boost local jobs and respond to individual community needs,’’ he said.
‘‘We’ve had strong demand on the Drought Communities Extension Programme and we’re extending it to six new areas.
‘‘On top of the $1 million we’ve delivered to 122 councils we’ll make another $1 million available for those still in need.
‘‘We’ve also set up a $50 million fund for council projects in drought-hit communities for things like community hall renovations and playground upgrades.
‘‘This will boost rural economies with more jobs and more business for regional suppliers like the local hardware store.’’
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Coalition Government’s next step of measures to combat the drought’s impact was ready to flow.
‘‘We are stepping up our drought response once again to meet the increasing needs,’’ Mr Morrison said.
‘‘Since the Budget we have already committed an additional $355 million to step up our drought response. Today’s announcement triples this to more than $1 billion since the election, as well as more than $1 billion in new interest free loans to see people through.
‘‘This is money into the pockets of all those farmers and graziers who know they have a future, but are currently struggling to keep their operations running as the crippling effects of this drought continue to bite. They are backing themselves and we are backing them to make it through to the better days that will be ahead,’’ he said.
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