With our high, regular rainfall on the Mid North Coast, conditions suit many irrigated agricultural crops currently grown in the Murray-Darling Basin, including fruit and nuts, (grapes, citrus, stone fruits, tomatoes), vegetables (peas, green beans, cabbages, cauliflowers, pumpkins, onions, asparagus and potatoes), cut flowers, cultivated turf and hay production. Opportunities also exist for relocation of dairy and beef cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, goats, deer, bees, ostriches, alpacas and horses…
Much work has already been done in initiatives to improve water quality and capacity here…..
Presumably RDA Mid North Coast is a not for profit community-based organisation auspiced by the Federal Government.
What is fascinating about this entity is that it made a submission to the House Standing Committee for Regional Australia INQUIRY INTO THE PROPOSED MURRAY‐DARLING BASIN PLAN endorsing intensive farming practices which also stated; We believe members of the Murray-Darling Basin communities who are unable to sustain high irrigation farming practices in their locality may benefit from relocating to the Mid North Coast and being able to continue their farming practices, and provide skills and an increased agricultural base in the Mid North Coast.
Small problem with this generous offer though – irrigation farming requires water and under the NSW Water Management Act 2000 there are existing extraction limits set for most water sources in coastal regions.
Additionally, one local government area covered by RDA Mid North Coast relies heavily on interbasin water transfer to survive and, this water comes from the Clarence River catchment.
It seems the more the Clarence Valley attempts to honour an historical link with Coffs Harbour, the more that area is likely to demand as a 'right'.
What part of the Not A Drop campaign to stop water raids on the Clarence River and its tributaries doesn't this merry band of board members understand?
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