NEWLY-APPOINTED Primary Industries, Lands and Water Minister Niall Blair will be in Moree tomorrow to hear directly from irrigator, cropping and local government representatives about the impact the recent additional supplementary water embargo is having on the region, according to Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall.
Mr Marshall invited the Minister to Moree immediately following his appointment, to learn more about proposals from the industry to increase the productive use of available water and to resolve some of the major water issues currently facing the district.
“Following the election it’s very apparent that there are a number of issues and problems specific to the Moree Plains Shire – the Gwydir, Macintyre and Border Rivers Valleys – that need to be quickly addressed,” Mr Marshall said.
“In all of my meetings and visits so far I have found all the local water and agricultural stakeholders very patient and reasonable, with some good suggestions to improve a system which is currently failing to deliver for our region. That patience, however, is beginning to run out.
“Progress was being made but I thought it of paramount importance to invite the new Minister to learn first-hand the difficulties in the region for an industry that is the backbone of the local economy.”
The Minister will meet with Cotton Australia, Gwydir Valley and Namoi Valley Irrigators, Border Rivers Food and Firbre and the Macintyre Valley Cotton Growers Association in a roundtable session.
Mr Marshall said he had also arranged a meeting for Moree Plains Shire Council, which also feels very strongly about the current water situation, with the Minister to discuss the future of the Department of Lands building in Moree and its valuable records archives.
The Minister and Mr Marshall will also be taken on a tour the Auscott Cotton Gin at Moree tomorrow afternoon