Irrigators on Fleurieu Peninsula have won concessions in a plan to cap water use in the western Mount Lofty Ranges.
They are now likely to be able to take more water from catchments on their properties because of a change of heart by an environmental advisory body.
The farmlands of the southern Fleurieu have some of the highest rainfall in the region and landholders have paid a premium for it.
They believe they have the most to lose from a proposal to share water more evenly between farmers.
Ian Williams of the Southern Fleurieu Landholders Group is worried for the region’s agricultural prospects.
“Not being able to put in a dam and being entitled to a very small allocation would have a very significant impact of the future agricultural potential of the area,” he said.
Under the plan, landholders will be given allocations and forced to pay for the water they use from large commercial dams.
During a fiery consultation process, some at public meetings likened that to being charged for rain.
Now the Natural Resources Management Board says it is been listening to the concerns.
Flexibility
It has recommended a change to the original plan, including more flexibility on building dams and raising irrigators’ extraction limits in the Fleurieu region from 10 to 25 per cent.
Chris Daniels of the Board thinks the higher extraction would be warranted.
“Having spent some time with the farmers and seeing how they use the water and how much run-off also occurs back into the system, we feel we’re able to increase that extraction limit,” he said.
Fleurieu landholders say lifiting the cap to 25 per cent could be worth $140 million to regional agriculture.
While landholders feel they are being penalised simply for owning land with high rainfall or precious water resources, some environmental scientists insist water is a service, not a right and, like other services, should be paid for.
Water expert Professor Mike Young takes the long-term view.
“We need to avoid problems, not create problems like we have in the River Murray and then have horrible fights about fixing them up,” he said.
SA Water Minister Paul Caica also has an eye on the future.
“It’s about ensuring that we have a future, a future that accommodates for primary industries, for social and other economic activities and that can only be done if we manage that resource properly,” he said.
The SA Government is expected to adopt the water plan early next year.
