Shire President raises concerns over water policy in the Warren-Donnel
Shire President raises concerns with Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development over water policy in the Warren-Donnelly Catchment.
Manjimup Shire President Paul Omodei has today written to the Director General of Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER), Mr Michael Rowe and the Director General of the Department of Primary Industry and Regional Development (DPIRD), Mr Ralph Addis outlining some of his concerns about inequities in water policy in the Warren-Donnelly catchment.
Mr Omodei has outlined his suggestions to resolving some obvious issues facing self-supply water landholders and the inconsistencies in the policy delivered by DWER.
Some of the suggestions include the potential for 'scaling back' of the Southern Forests Irrigation Scheme (SFIS) to protect Middle Donnelly self-supply water landholders in line with a decision taken by the Manjimup Shire Council on 21 March 2019 to support the SFIS to obtain grant funding subject to supporting water allocations being in addition to those available for Middle Donnelly self-supply water landholders. "I am confident that the Southern Forests Irrigation Cooperative could support this concept which is unlikely to affect the overall viability of the SFIS." Mr Omodei said.
Other possible options suggested by Mr Omodei could include landholders being allowed to retain a percentage of 'latent water' for drought security above water allocation licences as well as being be able to 'trade water' across catchment boundaries similar to the SFIS.
"DWER need to clarify policy on new dams to be built on farms to receive SFIS water, as it is important to note that the majority of SFIS supplied farmers are also self-supply water landholders and areas for water storage on farms come at a premium" Mr Omodei said.
Mr Omodei continued "DWER needs to undertake an urgent review of water policy where it relates to the months when water can be captured and there should also be a review of water allocation methodology for all new water licences when accurate data, from current and urgently needed future water probes and gauging stations strategically positioned across all of the water catchment area in the Warren-Donnelly, becomes available." Mr Omodei added.
Mr Omodei's suggestions presented to DWER have come after a number of unfounded allegations in the community, particularly from people who are simply opposed to the SFIS. Mr Omodei urged anyone who had any concerns to raise them with the appropriate authorities. "There is a huge amount of information available in DWER publications and on the SFIS website" he said.
"At this moment in time it is a once in a generation opportunity to secure our water future through self-supply water via the Southern Forests Irrigation Scheme. The $100M dollar plus SFIS project will provide economic growth and much needed jobs in our community. It is time for the Government to act and make changes which will placate concerns raised in the Manjimup and Pemberton communities". Mr Omodei said.
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Authorised by Andrew Campbell, Chief Executive Officer
Contact Sheri Laba, Public Relations Officer
Contact for comment: Paul Omodei, Shire President.
Contact: 0448 810 773
