O’CONNELL RIVER IRRIGATION LIMITATIONS LIFTED

Irrigators in the O’Connell River area will breathe a sigh of relief tomorrow when current water pumping limitations are lifted.

Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace said good rainfall in the area during late December has enabled NRW to withdraw current limitations being imposed on irrigators who take water from the O’Connell River and tributaries, including the Andromache River and tributaries, north of Mackay.

“From November 1 2007, the 71 irrigators in the area were limited to pumping water for irrigation between 5pm and 6am seven nights a week,” he said.

“Now that there has been good rain in the area, those limitations are being lifted from January 9 2008, so that irrigators can take water at any time in accordance with the conditions of their licence.”

There are no other surfacewater irrigation limitations imposed in the Mackay region.

Media enquiries: Paul Childs, Craig Wallace’s office, on 0407 131 654.