Water

TasFarmers and its members promote the use of water in an efficient and sustainable manner that will benefit the economy while respecting the needs of the environment. Farmers play an important role in their property management to achieve sustainable outcomes at the broader landscape level, including water.

TasFarmers regularly convenes meetings of its Water Committee to consider issues confronting our members including Water Management Plan allocations and access rules; water entitlements; water prices; and water governance within the State and nationally.

Governments must employ principles of transparency and stakeholder consultation in the development of water policy and pricing mechanisms.

Governments must consider the capacity of industry to cope with changes in water pricing and policy, particularly in those industries which will face difficulties in implementing the reforms and in recovering increased production costs in their markets.

Water pricing and policy reforms need to be considered in the context of broader economic, social and environmental planning mechanisms. A coordinated and consultative approach is essential to effective planning, policy development and regulation.