Failing allocations bought out
A new, $30 million water buyback is aimed at helping struggling farming families along the lower Darling River.
The Lower Darling Horticulture Group in far west NSW has been lobbying the Federal Government to buy back its members' high-security allocations for years, seeking compensation so that they can leave an industry failing because of an erratic water supply.
A group of eight landholders will now be paid to pull out their crops and hand over water licenses.
“It does reflect the reality that reliability of supply for high security water licences, which are always supposed to have water, simply doesn't exist anymore,” Alan Whyte from Jamesville Station, north of Wentworth, told ABC reporters.
“It's good news, it's realistic and we certainly appreciate it, but it's been quite a slog to get there.
“The details of the contract will be subject to confidentiality agreements at the request of the federal Department.”
Water Minister David Littleproud says there has been a lot of pressure on the eight families.
“I felt that it was important that those people who have gone through a lot, in terms of the negotiations of that strategic purchase, they'd had enough and they needed to be taken out of the political spotlight,” Mr Littleproud said.