Answers needed on buyback strategy with water usage below Basin limits

National Irrigators Council are calling on the Australian Government for answers, as they continue to pursue additional water purchases when water usage is well below the Basin Plan limits.

National Irrigators’ Council CEO, Zara Lowien said “the recently released data from the Murray Darling Basin Authorityi confrms the core objectives of the Basin Plan are being achieved with water take 23 percent below the Basin Plan limit [see Figure 1]”.

“Usage around the Basin is well below the required limits and that’s even before the Federal Government acquires more water via buybacks this year”.

“Buybacks were a tool to reduce usage to meet these new Sustainable Diversion Limits and provide water for the environment.

The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder cannot use all the water it has already, and now with Sustainable Diversion Limits achieved, it seems the Federal Government is just doing buybacks for the sake of it” said Mrs Lowien.

Mrs Lowien said, “with Basin Limits clearly being implemented, its time to genuinely focus on achieving environmental outcomes and not just buying water”.

“An outcomes approach would be less harmful to many Basin communities and the economy, but critically provide an opportunity to directly address any remaining environmental concerns”.

“We are calling on the Government to demonstrate how they will use this new information and prioritise the promised alternatives to fnalise the Basin Plan. They should also invest in complementary measures like fsh passage infrastructure to maximize the water already recovered, rather than simply adding more”.

“It’s illogical that the focus remains on additional water when the limits are being implemented and more water alone will not fx the Murray Darling Basin”.

“We know purchases will drive up water prices and undermine the economic capacity of the irrigation-dependent

Basin Communities, adding to the cost-ofliving crisis”.

“Yet the Government has committed to purchase at least another

100GL of water this fnancial year. The frst tender for 70% of this target due to close next month,” said Mrs Lowien.

Bora Ridge was so named as it was the site of an Aboriginal Bora Ring Ceremonial Ground. Bora Ridge is situated 7kms southwest of Coraki.

The ridge itself lies between Bungawalbyn Creek and Sandy Creek, which both feed into the Richmond River several kilometres away. In Bora Creek, a tributary of Bungawalbyn Creek and close to the school, was where the late Oliver Jones built and launched a river craft called the “Mystery” about seven years before the turn of the century.

In 1920 the Bora Ridge residents decided to build a hall to service the area.

The land for the Bora Ridge Primary Producers Memorial Hall was given by Tom and Robert Mofftt who owned property around the hall. The hall was built on the corner of Houghwood and Myall Creek Roads, part of Portion 79. The building materials for the hall was shipped up the Richmond River from Bagot Bros Mill, on the

North Creek Canal in Ballina and landed at Bungawalbyn. The hall was called Bora Ridge Primary Producers Memorial Hall. It was built in memory of the men that served in the First War. Planning for a Memorial Roll of Honour to be placed in the Bora Ridge Hall began in 1946. Names of men that served in the Two Wars were to be honoured. The memorial was unveiled at the hall on Friday 27th June 1947. The President of Woodburn Shire, Councillor L.R. Williams presided at the function and Mrs Pursey, the only mother in the district to lose a son in the Second World War, performed the unveiling.

Tom and Robert Mofftt’s brother, George and wife Ann, who lived at Pinchins Lane, Keerong decided to move to Bora Ridge. Dances were held every fortnight for years while their daughter Jean played the piano accompanied by Enid Williams. Enid also played for the Christmas School concert each year.

By Helen Trustum

A letter of appreciation is held by Jean from the Secretary of the hall for all her voluntary work at the hall. Mrs Turner and Alec Strong’s Music also played.

Besides a hall at Bora Ridge there was a school that was opened in 1900 on land donated by Chris Hetherington Snr. About 25 pupils attended the opening. Justin Nowlan was the frst pupil enrolled at the school. The fftieth anniversary of the opening was a landmark in the school’s history. The event was held on 21st July 1951 marking the Golden Anniversary Celebrations was held at the school where the Member for Casino Mr J.T. Reid MLA presented each child with a Jubilee medal. A picnic lunch was held in conjunction with the celebrations and a ball held in the Bora Ridge Hall at night. Mr Reid said, “It was signifcant that the Jubilee of the school coincided with the Jubilee of Federation”. The original eucalypts in the school ground were replaced by pines, which were given by the late Mrs R.C. Yabsley and by camphor laurels, jacarandas and fgs, all of which help to make the setting quite picturesque. The school closed in 1973.

The Bora Ridge Hall and School serviced the area well in those years of education and entertainment. School concerts were always held in the hall along with 21st birthdays, euchre nights, dances and balls. The tennis court in the school grounds were very popular at weekends. With the hall built close to the school the two buildings became a focal point for the small community.

Owing to the upkeep of the hall, it was sold to Mr Neville Pursey in 1968. The Honour Roll was housed in the Mid Richmond Historical Society at Coraki.

Ref: Northern Star 21/7/1951, Terry and Cindy Murphy, Bora Ridge, Betty Olivieri, Rock Valley.