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- 13 November 2003
Water Aquifers
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Page: 4947
Mr IAN COHEN [6.00 p.m.]: I refer to water, subterranean water and aquifers in parts of New South Wales where people are being severely affected by what appears to be a significantly unequal extraction of water for various industrial and agricultural uses. I received a letter from Judi Heckendorf of Trangie, who is concerned about the extraction of bore water from the aquifers around her family's property. Water usage has increased in recent years to such an extent that levels are dropping and the quality of water is being severely impacted upon by the cotton industry. Concerns have been expressed throughout the area. A number people from the area have said that their quality of life and the quality of their water has been dramatically affected by inappropriate use by cotton producers. They do not believe that water is being equitably distributed. That could have a significant environmental impact as water levels drop due, as is asserted by Ms Heckendorf, to the heavy use by the cotton industry. The letter is dated 1 November 2003 and it states:
For many years since my family purchased our property "Auburn" in 1954, which is situated approximately 27 kms south west of Trangie on the Dandaloo Road, our bore water has always been palatable for drinking and household use.
However, since 1996 when underground water was allowed to be extracted for large irrigation purposes, i.e, namely cotton, the levels have never returned.
From 1972 to 1996 the depth to the watertable from ground level was pretty constant at 50 metres. From 1996 onwards though the level has dropped from 57 metres to 58 and 59 then 62 to 65 metres in 2003.
Not only have the water levels dropped but the quality of our water has deteriorated to the point that we can no longer drink it and we have been forced to go 10-15km to get water for drinking in 10lt containers.
Our water prior to the irrigation subtraction has always been very palatable and our home water system is piped from the bore.
Early this year we were also forced to spend $20,000 and sink a new bore as directed to and supervised by the Department of Land and Water Conservation, but the water quality is no different to that of the existing bore.
I have since heard nothing from the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources (DIPNR) and am very concerned for the future of the falling water levels and of course the deterioration in our water quality.
I am also concerned for the farmers further out who are not always privileged with adequate rainfall and rely on their bores for water for their stock.
It seems to me that no one cares about stock and domestic bore users as this raping of the underground water is still being allowed to happen and water sharing plans have been deferred until June 2004.
In the area 8 zone 4 and 5 in which we live the bores are in sandstone, the Great Artesian Basin, and I have always been of the understanding that sandstone bores did not replenish quickly enough to allow irrigation from these aquifers.
That is exactly what is happening!
In our area there are 660 stock and domestic bores, as stated by DIPNR, and 2 towns with a population of approximately 1,200 people who are totally reliant on this bore water.
Yet just a handful of irrigators, 5-7 according to DIPNR, are being allowed to have a devastating impact on our region.
Water sharing is therefore a joke as this handful of people is effectively dictating to the majority and DIPNR.
I really do wonder who is paying DIPNR their wages.
Water is for everyone not just a few.
Pumping should be halted in sandstone irrigation bores until further investigation can be carried out.
If this does not happen and the irrigators are allowed to continue to sink their bores deeper, as they have been doing year after year, then all bore water may be unusable and unobtainable for everyone!
Really, if commonsense does not prevail then everyone who is reliant on this precious water source will be severely affected in years to come.
Ms Heckendorf asks that action be taken. I ask the Government to investigate the matter to avoid a disaster in the very precious aquifers in the area in the near future.
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