Council fights for Granite Belt water allocation

Southern Downs Regional Council has taken steps to retain a 4000ML unused water allocation for the Granite Belt.
Mayor Ron Bellingham said the council would be pushing very strongly not to remove the allocation as recommended in a Queensland Government submission to the Windsor Inquiry into allocation cuts under the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
Five thousand megalitres of water was originally granted to the Granite Belt under the Water Resource Border Rivers Plan 2003.
This included 3500ML for irrigators and 1500ML to augment the Stanthorpe urban supply.
In September 2008 the State Government announced that 500ML of that unallocated irrigators’ water was to be gifted to the Federal Environmental Water Holder.
This left 4500ML of water which is yet to be allocated to a local project as the council continues to explore viable water storage options.
“Now we’ve discovered that the State Government suggested to the Windsor Inquiry to gift another 3500ML on top of the earlier 500ML, making a total of 4000ML taken from the Granite Belt,” Cr Bellingham said.
“The council has grave concerns about the magnitude of such a cut,” he said.
“Whether this water goes into a future local dam or is auctioned for private irrigator water storage, it still should belong to the Granite Belt.
“It would in essence mean that there is only an additional 1000ML for urban water supply available for the future, and there would be nothing for producers in the area, removing any opportunity for growth or water security,” Cr Bellingham said.
The council has since written to Minister Kate Jones, the Murray Darling Basin Authority chairman Craig Knowles and Tony Windsor to outline our position and will take further steps if required.
The Windsor Inquiry, led by NSW MP Tony Windsor, last week released its report after reviewing the proposals made in the Guide to the Murray Darling Basin Plan and reassessed options for reductions in water allocations along the Murray Darling Basin, taking into account the socio-economic impact on rural communities.
However, Cr Bellingham said that rumours the council had already appointed a lobbyist were not correct.
“No lobbyist has been appointed, although it could be an option if required,” he said.
Southern Downs Regional Council has continued the work of the former Stanthorpe Shire Council in developing a plan for more water storage options in Stanthorpe.
Options including Emu Swamp Dam and off stream storage at Petrie’s Crossing are still being investigated and would rely on State and Federal Government approval and funding.