More than 600 residents, business owners and farmers demanded “enough is enough” and called for a stop to the water buybacks by the Albanese Government in a protest rally at Leeton.

The crowd in Mountford Park was addressed by Leeton Mayor Cr Tony Reneka, Southern Cotton general manager Kate O’Callaghan, Leeton Business Chamber president Krystal Maytom, SunRice milling operator and UWU delegate Adam Roden, farmer Rob Houghton, Leeton Shire sustainability manager Luke Tedesco and farmer Liz Stott.

Cr Reneker told the protesters Leeton Shire had always supported the intent of the Murray Darling Basin Plan, doing the right thing by the environment and future generations. “We have always advocated for win-win solutions for the environment, economy and our community. This Bill is a hugely backward step as it ignores the triple bottom line,” he said.

Cr Reneker said until now, all sides of government had committed to working together in a bipartisan way to make the Plan work for the environment and communities.

“Until now, our feedback was respected and listened to.”

He said Leeton and MIA farmers communities have returned 2100 gigalitres or four Sydney Harbours to the environment.

“Sadly, this new Bill introduced by government is looking to undo the cap and will allow all available water for the environment to be recovered through buy backs. These effects will be felt both locally and nationally, and they will be devastating.”

Cr Reneka said more intelligent options were already on the table to achieve better environmental outcomes and would not decimate local communities.

“These are being ignored in favour of the lazy buy back politics. What we need is better science, a more integrated approach and more time to achieve environmental outcomes determined by the Basin Plan.”

Krystal Maytom said the negative impact of government water buybacks on the community could not be ignored.

“Hard working farmers and local businesses, the backbone of our regional economies, will suffer the consequences of water buy-backs as water is diverted away,” Ms Maytom said.

“Reduced water availability means diminished crop yield and economic hardships for farmers who have dedicated their lives to the land.

“Businesses relying on the prosperity of our farmers, local retail, farming and machinery suppliers are left to weather the storm of the economic downturn. Our regional communities are already finding it difficult to attract and retain skilled professionals to our region.

“We must advocate for policy that strikes a delicate balance between environmental conservation and the sustainability of our regional economies.”

Irrigation farmer Rob Houghton told the protestors the rally was a great opportunity for them to raise their voices until the Prime Minister reconsidered the buyback scheme.

“In the last 25 to 30 years we have really worked on our ability to use every drop of water and then use it again. There is such technology, progress and enough water to run through our system to cater for the droughts when they do come along,” he said.

“The work we have done on our farming systems will not fix bad legislation. If we lose out and the government doesn’t hear our voices, don’t see the numbers or our relevance, we will have stranded assets and we will not be prosperous into the future.

“Environmental water managers need to do better with what they have.” 

This article appeared in the Narrandera Argus, 23 November 2023.