Coulton’s Catch Up – MDBA satellite images

Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton has released the below statement following a Murray-Darling Basin Authority report that includes satellite images of dams in the Namoi and Maquarie Valleys:

I am very disappointed with the insinuations that have resulted from a published document identifying private storages in the Namoi and Macquarie Valleys as alleged sites of illegal pumping during an embargo.

Without any charges being laid, and in the absence of any thorough investigations whatsoever, farmers in my electorate could be linked with illegal activity.

While it is important that our valuable water resources are managed by the existing strict guidelines, it is vital that all facts are known before information like this is placed in the public arena.

The farmers in my electorate play a crucial role supporting, not only the local economy, but also contribute to valuable export income for our country, and for them to be portrayed as being dishonest without comprehensive investigation is extremely insulting to them and their families.

To pinpoint these locations before any thorough investigation is denying these farmers of their presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

We saw a similar state of affairs in the Aussie Farms website saga.

Information like this should not be placed on the MDBA website.

I call on the MDBA to remove this information until further investigations are completed.

Mark Coulton.

As a result of the MDBA report’s release a planned water meeting in Wee Waa today, Tuesday October 22, has been cancelled.

“Due to the MDBA report causing significant angst amongst the community and following discussion with Namoi Water the Department felt it would be in the best interests of DOI (Department of Industry)Water staff and their community to reschedule,” said Namoi Water in a statement.

“Namoi Water supports this rescheduled meeting to allow the discussions to focus on the Water Sharing Plan issues rather than the appalling naming and shaming of farmers in the MDBA report.”