Primary producers from the Warwick region are being urged to attend a public meeting this Thursday 18 July to protest a lack of Queensland Government consultation over plans to restrict their use of irrigation water.
As reported last week in the Free Times the Palaszczuk Government dropped a bombshell late last month, writing to just under 1000 Darling Downs producers – including those in creek catchments east of Warwick – instructing them to install metering systems on their irrigation bores this financial year or face a fine of anywhere up to $217,000 if they breach restrictions without doing so.
If they do not install meters they will only be able to draw irrigation water twice a week, on Tuesday and Thursday nights.
While many of those affected do not necessarily object to their irrigation water being metered, they are angry at the lack of notice given to them by the government, having received their letters – sent to 925 producers in the Upper Condamine catchment which includes the Warwick area – in the last week of June, with the new metering requirement effective as of 1 July.
MEETING DETAILS…
WHEN: 10am this Thursday 18 July
WHERE: Swan Creek Hall (off Warwick-Yangan Road, near Jack Smith Gully Road)
MORE INFO: Contact Ross Bartley, 0429 637 729
