..Use this link to contact PM. .http://www.pm.gov.au/contact/index.cfmAUSTRALIAN WATER ISSUES
Community Reference Group's Post Cards & Letters
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The Hon. Kevin Rudd MP
Prime Minister
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
The Hon. Mike Rann MP
Premier of South Australia
GPO Box 2343
ADELAIDE SA 5001
Dear Prime Minister Rudd and Premier Rann,
We live and work in the Riverland of South Australia. We represent the community of the region;
some 35,000 men women and children. The primary source of regional income is derived from
primary production, the majority being from irrigated vines and tree crops (permanent plantings)
grown by the region’s 3,000 + irrigators.
Regional successes
The region has achieved remarkable success over many decades. Our family farms have generated
many billions of dollars of wealth for the state and the nation through export and domestic sales.
The Riverland, as the largest single wine producing region in Australia has long been regarded by
winemakers and growers as the engine room of the Australian wine industry. In normal
circumstances the region produces 25% of Australia’s wine and 50% of wine grapes crushed in
South Australia. The region is also noted for its citrus production. These two commodities together
produced $306M farm‐gate revenue for the region in 2005. Wine remains the State’s second
largest export and currently contributes around $2.4B to the state’s economy, much of it from the
Riverland.
Internationally recognised secondary and tertiary enterprises have flourished. The main population
centres are Renmark, Berri, Barmera, Loxton and Waikerie. Each of these towns are justifiably
proud of their community achievements as evidenced by the high number of community hospitals,
schools, hotels, clubs, sporting groups, churches and service organisations.
Riverland irrigation infrastructure is first class. Water delivery systems have already been
rehabilitated. There are no open channels. Most crops are drip irrigated leaving little scope for
further significant improvements in water management.
Communities and businesses in jeopardy
Right now, these communities and businesses across all sectors are in jeopardy. Despite consistent
production growth through productivity and efficiency gains and despite being widely recognised as
the most water use efficient irrigation region, the region is no longer retaining anywhere near
enough of the wealth it generates to be sustainable. Responsibility for this deterioration is not
attributable to any single sector of community, business or government. Nor can it be solely
attributed to drought factors. Rather, it is a result of many different elements conspiring to form
the perfect storm.
We witness the resulting turmoil in the faces and dashed spirits of our children, our families our
small business entrepreneurs and our large corporate entities. No sector remains unaffected.
Primary producers have collaborated willingly and constructively with their business partners, wine
companies, packing sheds, other processors, as well as Government Agencies and Government
Ministers to manage these harsh circumstances. Drought relief measures have been greatly
appreciated. All stakeholders have made concessions and relaxed contractual trading terms in a bid
to share the burden; none more so than the region’s irrigators.
These irrigators, the backbone of industry, are bracing for a record low water allocation. Low water
means low or zero production, the death of permanent plantings, many years of lost production,
lost markets, stranded assets and infrastructure. If irrigators can not be sustained, secondary
industry will grind to a halt. The road to recovery will be extremely costly.
We are ready for change
We request that you Prime Minister Rudd and you Premier Rann to come to this region and speak
with us; collaborate with representatives of all sectors to reappraise the outcomes and
recommendations of last year’s Socio Economic Impact Assessment, co‐funded by the State and
Federal Governments and carried out by PKF, Uni SA and regional representatives (attached). The
regions’ people want to work urgently with both Governments to develop ways and means of
mitigating against further waste and harm to our people, our environment, our infrastructure and
our economy.
We absolutely acknowledge change is imperative. We are ready for it. We want to identify options
that will enable change to be implemented as fairly and equitably as possible and to position the
region for the next era. We want to offer a dignified exit to those on the threshold of despair and a
path to recovery for those who are able to remain. We are not prepared to sit back and watch our
people, our investments, our achievements, our contribution to this nations reputation be
relegated to the history books. We want to redeem and preserve as much as we can of the region’s
environment. There is no time left for many of us. We must ACT NOW.
We will appreciate it if you will both visit the region and talk to us and plan with us. We have much
to offer. We want to be included.
Yours faithfully
Jack Papageorgiou
Chair, Community Reference Group