TWENTY YEARS ON AND STILL LOVING IT! DUBBO
PhotoNews Photo
JULY 4-10, 2019 | LOCALLY OWNED & INDEPENDENT | FREE!
WATER WOES
Farmers set to take another hit isation and stakeholders has been clear throughout. IMMINENT low to no water “Under natural circumallocations as a result of the stances, the Macquarie Rivongoing drought have now er would have ceased to flow kicked in and local farmers in the middle of January of are set to take a hit. 2017, so Water NSW has acGeneral security licenses, tually done a very good job at held by most irrigating farm- spreading that water out now ers, will receive no new al- over two and a half years so location of water in 2019 to far, and there’s nearly another 2020 with supplies being pre- 12 months or so of water left served for critical needs and for the towns and stock and water that was stored in 2018, domestic uses,” he said. also known as carryover wa“I think everyone has acter, is also beyond access. cepted that it (the drought) is Cotton farmer and chair- what it is, and now it’s about man of Macquarie River Food working together to figure out and Fibre, Tony Quigley, is just how we can make things work one of the many who will feel in these circumstances.” the double whammy impact of Also understanding the need the ongoing drought and wa- for water restrictions, Cotton ter restrictions. Australia General Manager Mr Quigley would usually Michael Murray admits it will grow around 600 hectares of impact the supply within the industry. cotton, but produced less than “The water 400 hectares this restrictions in year, all of which place are the rewas grown ussult of a very seing water purvere drought and chased from othwill continue to er irrigators. have an impact on local cotton “There will be production, as no irrigated cotwell as other agton in this valley ricultural comnext year, except modities,” Mr for a few people Tony Quigley. PHOTO: Murray said. who have bores COTTON AUSTRALIA south of Nar“It’s been a romine,” he said. tough season and “We will take a hit, but like we are expecting the cotton most irrigators, we grow dry crop in the Macquarie Valley land crops and run livestock and across NSW to be signiftoo, so it (cotton) isn’t the icantly reduced as a result of only thing we do. The prob- the drought.” lem is, of course, there’s no In announcing the allocawinter crops growing either tions, water drought coordibecause of the drought, and nator from NSW Department we are feeding all our live- of Planning, Industry and Enstock, so yes, not having any vironment, Michael Wrathall, cotton is going to be one hit, said the restrictions were a but we’re also struggling with “last resort”. dry land crops that are going “Over the past two years, backwards or not planted, and many rivers have dropped to livestock that we are feeding. their lowest flows since re“It’s going to be tough all cords began more than 100 ‘round on the farm, not just years ago,” he said. on the irrigation front.” “We are focussing on exMr Quigley, however, com- tending water for critical humends the actions of Water man water needs, restarting NSW during this unprecedent- flow in the rivers, and meeted dry spell and said commu- ing other high priority water nication between the organ- needs where possible.” By LYDIA PEDRANA
Even at 18-month 18-months old, local lad Ayden Adams instinctively knows how to relish chocolate. Like the most seasoned of us, Ayden just can’t wait to officially c mark World Chocolate Day this Sunday, simply by eating som me. But why stop o there? Seee mo m re inside.
All in good taste
PHOTO: DUBBO PHO OTO NEWS/WENDY MERRICK
READ MORE ❱❱ PAG A E 22
CALL US with your news 6885 4433 | EMAIL photos@dubbophotonews.com.au t @d bb h t | VISIT US at 89 Wingewarra Street, Dubbo