IRRIGATORS in Bathurst are prepared to accept an 80 per cent cut to their water allocation as the region braces for another dry summer.
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Following discussions with the irrigators, Bathurst Regional Council has put forward a proposal to the NSW Government, the body in control of water allocations and licences, recommending that 1100 megalitres be provided for irrigation from Chifley Dam.
This is 20 per cent of the usual allocation.
Council's director of Engineering Services, Darren Sturgiss, said this was proposed after council's bid to purchase water from the Fish River Supply and Oberon Dam was not approved.
According to local irrigator Jeff McSpedden, it was a tough but understandable decision.
"If we didn't take a cut and Bathurst didn't go on to level four [water restrictions] they would be at level five by January and probably even worse," he said.
"And, for irrigators, there would be a cease to pump rule from state government because Bathurst would be running out of water.
"It's not good having half a crop grown, so to ensure that you get through with a bit of crop that you do sow, we went to 20 per cent, which is a big cut."
The decision, regardless of how necessary, is expected to have a big impact on everyone, with the irrigators in particular set to lose a substantial portion of their income from growing significantly smaller crops.
"If you were going to grow $300,000 worth of vegetables or whatever ... this year you're going to be down to something like $50,000," he said.
"You've still got to live on that and still got to service the thing, whereas someone in town, yes they can't water their lawn, but they've still got their job. You try living on 20 per cent of your wage."
He also asked people not to look down on farmers watering, saying it was essential for the growth of their crops.
"Some people in town will see irrigation happening through the summer and say 'Why are they watering while we've got restrictions?'. Well, that water is only 20 per cent of what we would normally be able to have," he said.
Mr Sturgiss said council's proposal aims to ensure "the city does not move beyond extreme water restricts before other water storage options" are introduced.
Mr McSpedden said council is "doing their best" to respond to the water crisis and ultimately the irrigators know the decision was not made lightly, but done to extend the life of the supply.
"There's a lot of irrigators who are not happy, but they realise that the outcome, the end game, is the important part," Mr McSpedden said.
"If everyone put in their normal crop, we would run out of water in January - that's for town and irrigators - and there'd be a cease to pump and probably level five [restrictions].
"The problem then is you have a crop half grown. No one wants to do that; everyone says grow a smaller area and make sure it comes through and harvest it."