Members of the group’s executive team were joined by Water Partners chief executive Donna Mulcahy and RM Consulting Group principal Daryl Poole as guest speakers.
The discussion largely revolved around increasing water prices, and the social and economic impacts of the federal government’s Restoring Our Rivers proposal.
As rainfall has been above average in recent years, Mr Poole said irrigators may have been instilled with a false sense of confidence regarding price and availability.
While water is an ongoing issue in Nicholls, Mr Poole believes it would be more prominent coming into the federal election if environmental conditions were different.
“It would actually have more light if this election was next May, because I reckon next May we would probably be feeling a bit more exposed to water,” he said.
RM Consulting Group has also estimated a 30 per cent increase in water prices if the 450GL of additional environmental water is released under the ROR proposal.
The proposal is expected to affect all agricultural industries, not just dairy and cropping, which were typically the most impacted by earlier water buybacks.
“I think we’ve got to be really thoughtful about the structural adjustment support that needs to come into the region because the 450GL will have a significant impact,” Mr Poole said.
“Support of the infrastructure would be a benefit as well, because it’s that system that’s going to be impacted by the reduced water through it, and support for the ongoing maintenance of the irrigation network could be a consideration.”
Members of Voices for Nicholls plan to use the information from the meeting and community feedback more broadly to consult the sitting member of the electorate.
For more information on the group, visit voicesfornicholls.com
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