Long term water stratergy needed for Salmon Gums farmers, Duncan
Author: Wendy Duncan
Published on: 14-April-2011
Mining and Pastoral MLC Wendy Duncan has called for the immediate recognition of the Salmon Gums and Condingup areas as officially water deficient.
The lack of run-off in recent years has left dams in the area dry, forcing farmers to cart water for both stock and domestic use.
Once a Water Deficiency Declaration is made, water can be carted by the State Government to Strategic Emergency Water Supplies in each area, like the Salmon Gums Quarry.
Ms Duncan said development of a long term water strategy to adequately provide for the water needs of Salmon Gums farmers in times of drought was essential, but action now was needed to relieve the current water crisis.
Farmers in the Salmon Gums area say they are experiencing the worst drought in over 70 years and supplies of water for domestic use and for livestock are low.
Esperance Shire Council president Ian Mickel has expressed concern that if the Salmon Gums Quarry is allowed to run dry, it will be almost physically impossible to truck enough water to it to meet the anticipated demand.
He called for an immediate and accurate assessment of the quarry’s current water level, and quick action to replenish supplies in the area.
“While the implementation of the emergency farmland water supply scheme may relieve of some of their water worries now, we need to be looking to a more permanent solution to the area’s water needs,” Ms Duncan said.
Carting water to strategic watering points in the area may alleviate short term anguish in terms of providing for thirsty animals, but concern has been expressed about the fate of farmers if not enough water falls during this year’s winter.
“Thought needs to be put into a sensible plan to prepare the area for the coming summer, so that if a lack of run-off means there is not enough water collected during the winter months, the needs of farmers are quickly met.”
She said that while farmers needed to be encouraged to develop on farm storage systems and ensure catchment areas feeding dams were effective and adequately maintained, they also needed to be able to operate confident in the knowledge that there was an efficient back-up system ready to kick in when the need arose.
