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Friday, 19 January 2007 The Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia Inc (RGA) has welcomed the announcement by the NSW Government yesterday of $20 million for irrigators in the Murray and Murrumbidgee Valleys. “The package will potentially deliver up to $20 million cash to the Riverina to assist irrigators affected by record low inflows, said Mr Laurie Arthur President. “However, the NSW Government’s assistance package does not compensate irrigators for the impacts of the Government’s decision to reduce by up to 52% the volume of water in individual irrigation accounts after planting of crops had occurred and that resulted in crops subsequently being abandoned due to insufficient irrigation water, “In many cases, this water was either unused water or purchased water from the previous season or purchased in the current season at great expense for the purposes of drought mitigation, said Mr Arthur. “The RGA remain concerned that a large number of rice growers, particularly in the Murrumbidgee Valley will not be able to receive assistance due to the inappropriateness of the eligibility criteria and RGA will be seeking discussions with the Minister to re-assess these criteria, Mr Arthur said The RGA met with both the Minister and the NSW Premier to highlight the issues in both the Murray and Murrumbidgee Valleys. RGA has provided the NSW Government with figures showing that rice growers across both valleys incurred over $9 million in crop inputs and water costs which cannot be re-couped. It is therefore important that the NSW Government seek to include all growers in this package. “In addition, the RGA seeks clarification of the NSW Government’s commitment to the Prime Minister’s Water Summit on a package to waive both fixed water charges and shire rates, Mr Arthur said. “The RGA will also continue discussions with the NSW Government on assistance to cover the cost of water and farm inputs used on these abandoned crops, “RGA would like to acknowledge the efforts of Peter Black Member for Murray-Darling, the Premier the Hon. Morris Iemma and the Hon. Ian Macdonald, Minister for Natural Resources in delivering this package to irrigators, concluded Mr Arthur. Rice growers are reminded that applications must be lodged with the NSW Rural Assistance Authority by 9 March 2007. Application forms are available from the NSW Department of Natural Resources website (http://www.dnr.nsw.gov.au/whatsnew/index.shtml), NSW Rural Assistance Authority (1800 678593) or the RGA office (02 69530433). CONTACT |
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