I am writing to clarify the inaccurate claims and assumptions made by Mr Jon Gatacre in his Letter to the Editor published in the Pastoral Times (Friday, June 13).
I do so because I believe it is important for our local community to be aware of facts, rather than be misled by false information that has the potential to adversely impact our region and its future.
Firstly, I would like to point out that, in the interests of our community, a range of organisations, including Murray Irrigation, have taken a collaborative and strategic approach to ensuring this region has the best possible chance of gaining benefit from the Australian Government’s Sustainable Communities Program, and any other funding opportunities that arise.
It should be noted that the Sustainable Communities Program has been specifically established, as its principles state, to “support communities to build capacity and prepare for a future with less water”.
Contrary to Mr Gatacre's claims, this funding is not for the purposes of supporting "on-ground recovery and sustainability for irrigators” nor is it available to irrigation organisations such as Murray Irrigation.
Accurate and complete information on this program and its principles is available from the Australian Government’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water website.
The program’s principles highlight the importance of co-design across government, in particular “consultation with communities, First Nations, local government, and regional industries”.
If our region is to give itself the best chance of securing this funding, we must follow the program's principles, which is why a range of community leaders have come together in a united and collaborative manner.
Furthermore, Mr Gatacre’s comments that Murray Irrigation has “offered to sell water back to the government” are also inaccurate. While there were discussions in early 2023, as has been previously disclosed to shareholders, about the possible sale of water to the government, it was decided by the Board not to proceed.
For the record, Murray Irrigation has made significant inroads in implementing positive change within the business over the last few years.
Promises made to shareholders have been kept (eg. fees and prices), and we have sought the views of shareholders on possible solutions to mitigating the impacts of buybacks on our community. I look forward to sharing these initiatives during the planned shareholder meetings that Murray Irrigation will be hosting throughout July.
Any claims that Murray Irrigation is engaging in collusion to funnel funds for “propping up poor governance” or to “patch up their own missteps” is inaccurate and insulting; not only to staff, but to the many shareholders who support positive change, financial stability and the future-looking focus Murray Irrigation has been striving to achieve for a number of years.
At Murray Irrigation we know, as Mr Gatacre states, that farmers are the backbone of our region. That is why we are working with others on programs that seek to retain the maximum possible amount of water across the Murray Irrigation footprint, so our farmers can continue to be productive and make their significant contribution to the region’s prosperity.
Murray Irrigation is also committed to doing what we can to attract government funding for business and community initiatives that can help provide the infrastructure and services needed to lay foundations for our future generations.
Yours etc.
Ron McCalman
CEO – Murray Irrigation Ltd
3°C