Irrigators warn water costs could affect food and fibre production

By Jessica Dempster

This National Water Week, the New South Wales Irrigators’ Council is highlighting the connection between farmers’ access to water and Australia’s food and fibre production, warning that reduced access to productive water and rising charges put both farmers and consumers at risk.

Chief Executive Officer Dr Madeleine Hartley says affordable, productive water is essential to Australia’s food and fibre security, supporting farming families, local businesses and livelihoods across New South Wales.

She says rising food production costs could ultimately be felt by consumers at supermarket checkouts, making a fair and sustainable water pricing framework important to the viability of the irrigation industry.

The council is calling on the NSW Government to cap annual water price increases at five per cent, including inflation, until a review of the water pricing framework is completed by 2028.

Dr Hartley says this year’s National Water Week is about reminding Australians that water connects farmers to the food and fibre they produce and supports everyone’s livelihoods, whether they live in regional or metropolitan NSW.