BORDER farmers may soon be lobbying the federal government for cash to relieve the stress the Murray-Darling Basin water reforms are exerting on communities.
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It will come after issues are identified during a week-long forum starting in Albury tomorrow involving educators, scientists, farmers and pastors from metropolitan areas.
Forum leader Paul Creek said their main concern was the lack of funding available to help communities affected by water shortages in the Murray-Darling Basin.
“We have had meetings in Canberra and we are finding there are no funds available for communities to adjust to having less water and productivity,” he said.
Mr Creek said the Murray-Darling Basin on-going crisis mainly affected irrigators.
“There has been a big change in the amount of water for irrigation because more water is available for the environment,” he said.
The Berrigan Shire is heavily affected by the crisis and Mr Creek said the forum would investigate the social impacts.
He said the social dynamic at Finley had changed because many people were moving from the area due to the water shortage and people from lower socio-economic groups were moving to the town for cheap rent.
The shire’s general manager, Rowan Perkins, disputed the claim.
“I have not observed that,” he said.
“The community is adapting to the loss of water in a relatively positive way.
“They have improved their efficiency by becoming opportunistic water users.”
Berrigan mayor Bernard Curtin said the shire was affected because 85 per cent of land on the river was irrigated.
Mr Creek hoped the forum would create more awareness about the Murray-Darling Basin.
The forum starts at St David’s Uniting Church tomorrow at 6pm.
Speakers will include wetland ecologist Professor Max Finlayson, Uniting Earth Ministry consultant Dr Miriam Pepper and Canberra University associate professor John Goss.
The experts will then tour the Murray 1 Power Station before heading to Yarrawonga, Finley, Echuca, Robinvale and Mildura.