BY IAN CROUCH
Hunter Valley farmers have been given a reprieve in the face of a massive hike in water prices.
Water NSW had applied to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal for price increases ranging from 3% to 35% every year plus CPI.
The NSW Irrigators Council told IPART the proposed increase would price farmers out of business and lead to massive increases in the cost of produce sold at supermarkets.
IPART's draft determination released on Wednesday now proposes on a 1.9% increase in rural water bills for the next financial year plus CPI, indexed only by CPI increases for the following two years.
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| Irrigation from Lake Glenbawn is administered by Water NSW |
