❓ Mr Masters questions compensation for farmers in Busselton using their land as flood retention basins. Dr Hames assures compensation will be provided on a commercial, voluntary basis, highlighting potential benefits for nutrient and salinity management.
AnsweredQoN 175Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
The Office of Water Regulation is currently negotiating with farmers in the Busselton area on the voluntary use of parts of their properties as flood retention basins. Are farmers being offered any form of compensation for the loss of agricultural productivity should water flood their pasture for long periods? Dr HAMES
AnswerView source ↗
As the member is aware, management of flooding in the Busselton area is a serious problem, which the Government is doing all it can to resolve. Part of the resolution of that problem involves the creation of detention basins to act as a relief valve for water flooding the Busselton area. The Government has negotiated with a number of farmers in the area to try to reach agreement about their providing the detention basins. I am pleased that compensation will be provided to those farmers. Involvement will be on a totally voluntary basis, as no pressure will by applied by government or my department. Many farmers are interested in being involved. Compensation will be handled on a commercial basis. Some farmers may wish to sell their property, and some may wish to be compensated for the portions of their property that will contain the detention basins. A great deal of research has indicated that retention of water on properties is beneficial to the land in nutrient load and salinity management, and a number of farmers are keen to cooperate for that reason alone.
Dr HAMES replied: As the member is aware, management of flooding in the Busselton area is a serious problem, which the Government is doing all it can to resolve. Part of the resolution of that problem involves the creation of detention basins to act as a relief valve for water flooding the Busselton area. The Government has negotiated with a number of farmers in the area to try to reach agreement about their providing the detention basins. I am pleased that compensation will be provided to those farmers. Involvement will be on a totally voluntary basis, as no pressure will by applied by government or my department. Many farmers are interested in being involved. Compensation will be handled on a commercial basis. Some farmers may wish to sell their property, and some may wish to be compensated for the portions of their property that will contain the detention basins. A great deal of research has indicated that retention of water on properties is beneficial to the land in nutrient load and salinity management, and a number of farmers are keen to cooperate for that reason alone.
As the member is aware, management of flooding in the Busselton area is a serious problem, which the Government is doing all it can to resolve. Part of the resolution of that problem involves the creation of detention basins to act as a relief valve for water flooding the Busselton area. The Government has negotiated with a number of farmers in the area to try to reach agreement about their providing the detention basins. I am pleased that compensation will be provided to those farmers. Involvement will be on a totally voluntary basis, as no pressure will by applied by government or my department. Many farmers are interested in being involved. Compensation will be handled on a commercial basis. Some farmers may wish to sell their property, and some may wish to be compensated for the portions of their property that will contain the detention basins. A great deal of research has indicated that retention of water on properties is beneficial to the land in nutrient load and salinity management, and a number of farmers are keen to cooperate for that reason alone.
Dr HAMES replied: As the member is aware, management of flooding in the Busselton area is a serious problem, which the Government is doing all it can to resolve. Part of the resolution of that problem involves the creation of detention basins to act as a relief valve for water flooding the Busselton area. The Government has negotiated with a number of farmers in the area to try to reach agreement about their providing the detention basins. I am pleased that compensation will be provided to those farmers. Involvement will be on a totally voluntary basis, as no pressure will by applied by government or my department. Many farmers are interested in being involved. Compensation will be handled on a commercial basis. Some farmers may wish to sell their property, and some may wish to be compensated for the portions of their property that will contain the detention basins. A great deal of research has indicated that retention of water on properties is beneficial to the land in nutrient load and salinity management, and a number of farmers are keen to cooperate for that reason alone.
As the member is aware, management of flooding in the Busselton area is a serious problem, which the Government is doing all it can to resolve. Part of the resolution of that problem involves the creation of detention basins to act as a relief valve for water flooding the Busselton area. The Government has negotiated with a number of farmers in the area to try to reach agreement about their providing the detention basins. I am pleased that compensation will be provided to those farmers. Involvement will be on a totally voluntary basis, as no pressure will by applied by government or my department. Many farmers are interested in being involved. Compensation will be handled on a commercial basis. Some farmers may wish to sell their property, and some may wish to be compensated for the portions of their property that will contain the detention basins. A great deal of research has indicated that retention of water on properties is beneficial to the land in nutrient load and salinity management, and a number of farmers are keen to cooperate for that reason alone.
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