BY DAKOTA TAIT
Maitland farmers are concerned a cease-to-pump rule put forward by the State Government would cripple agriculture across the Hunter.
The move would restrict the amount of water irrigators can draw from the Hunter River throughout the summer in a bid to safeguard the freshwater supply downstream.
It's part of a NSW Planning and Environment Department management plan, which the Government says will bring the region in line with the rest of the State and safeguard the waterway against increases in salinity.
But farmers have raised their concerns at a meeting of the Lower Hunter Agricultural Water Users Incorporated group on Friday afternoon, arguing crops won't survive such a change.
Secretary Julia Wokes says the Government is out-of-touch with the community, and farmers are already capable of managing water issues themselves.
"The way the water works in the Lower Hunter is managed by generations of farmers," Ms Wokes said.
"They know to manage salinity, they know how to manage their crops, they know how to manage their land, and they provide local food, local seasonal production for the Maitland and Newcastle area, and they're very important."
There's concern the local agricultural industry, and from there, the entire regional economy, would be devastated if the decision is to go-ahead.
The plan is available for feedback until February 27, and farmers are putting together submissions in opposition to the rule.
An online petition already has 1300 behind it, and will be submitted alongside other materials.
Ms Wokes says a blanket fix isn't the right solution for the region.
"We want everyone to put petitions in, we want everyone to put submissions in," Ms Wokes said.
"We want them to understand that we're looking after the environment, they need to go away, they need to go and monitor the river, they need to go and really understand what they're asking us to do."
"They haven't done their triple bottom line research - they've no idea of the socioeconomic impacts of their decision."
