"Enough is enough."
"It needs to be known that if this water plan is passed the Hawkesbury's turf industry will die...no question about it."
These angry words, told to The Gazette by Bob Jeffries (pictured), president of the NSW Turf Growers Association, refer to the government's controversial Hawkesbury-Nepean Water Sharing Plan ? one that is literally being forced upon farmers in Hawkesbury's multi-million dollar turf industry.
And, it seems there is one simple question on Mr Jeffries' mind: "If it's not broken then why fix it?"
"Farmers have been here for hundreds of years and we've never had a problem until now... until this plan".
He said if the water sharing plan is passed it will spell the end of the Hawkesbury turf industry as we know it. It would impact on at least 250 jobs and will see major implications for the $80.8 million industry.
The plan will see the water available for irrigation in the Hawkesbury drop massively from 211.3ML a day to just 36ML a day.
The 82.9 per cent loss simply won't cut it for Hawkesbury farmers and they've had enough. Mr Jeffries is just one of hundreds of farmers who "can't believe what is proposed".
"There are just so many flaws in this plan and they either can't see them or won't admit to them," he said.
"The NSW Office of Water constructed this plan over the past two-and-a-half-years and are using figures that aren't correct to justify what they are doing.
"The figures used in the plan are from 2004 to 2007, in that time Hawkesbury turf farms were sending three B-double trucks of turf per week interstate, now we are sending 50 a week. That is a massive jump on the figures that are being used in the plan and it just really doesn't reflect them at all.
"They have not followed accurate scientific modules all the way through and even have incorrect report card figures in their plan.
"They are going to kill off this industry and don't even realise it...or worse they don't even care," he said.
Mr Jeffries said in the past few years, many turf farms have increased their acreage due to the ever increasing demand from both local and interstate markets.
"They've spent millions upgrading equipment and now that could all go to waste," he said. "We are selling 200 per cent more turf since 2007, but they haven't changed their plan to accommodate this."
He said while "there is no reduction to our entitlements, there is a reduction in our availability to pump water out of the river". This falls under the government's new cease-to-pump legislation.
"The cease-to-pump cannot happen ? it's a brand new legislation weapon that can extend up to 20 days at a time. How will these days be determined, what criteria is to be used, how much notice will be given are all questions we need to know. When we asked they said 'we haven't worked that out yet', however what they have worked out is that if a pump is activated during this time the fine will be $1.1 million plus $247,000 per day", Mr Jeffries said.
"It's just not acceptable...with laws like that we will lose everything".
He said the plan needs to be re-examined and a consultation with qualified water experts, as well as members of the farming and irrigation community, needs to take place.
Although the community was given from June 21 until this Friday (July 30), to make submissions against the plan, Mr Jeffries is wondering how much of a difference it will make.
"We've had several public meetings and they have admitted to us that they will be overlooking the submissions so how can we be sure that they will be taken seriously?"
"We all need to stand together and fight this 'till the end because once it gets passed it will be the end. Speak out, speak up and have your say...it's the only chance we've got to protect and maintain what we've all built and love so much".
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