The Rudd Government's water management plan for Australia's food bowl is shaping as ''a disaster'' that ignores the economic and social impacts of drought on rural towns, Australia's peak farm body says.
National Farmers Federation president David Crombie has bluntly dismissed an early draft of the Murray Darling Basin strategic plan as ''a train smash waiting to happen'' for agriculture.
Mr Crombie's comments follow months of discussion by the NFF with the Government and the newly appointed Murray Darling Basin Authority over the management plan, which is due to be published in June.
''We were asked for input and we gave it willingly. But as it stands, the plan that seems to be emerging is simply not acceptable or balanced,'' he said.
''We are talking about a huge chunk of rural Australia, and this plan shows no evidence of any planning for future regional development.''
Australia's farmers increased productivity by 2.8per cent a year over the past 20 years, ''which puts us right up there with the IT sector in terms of results and innovation,'' Mr Crombie said.
''But that track record isn't recognised by this plan.
''We all want healthy rivers, but we also need viable rural towns.''
His comments come as the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Penny Wong, announced yesterday $27 million to fund 12 water infrastructure programs in the Murray Darling Basin.
For more on this story, see the print edition of today's Canberra Times.
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