Food producers throughout the South West have called for the state government to change its mind about introducing water licence fees.
Water minister Dave Kelly announced recently that, from Sunday, July 1 this year, new fees would be introduced for water licence and permit assessments, which are currently free.
The water licence fees will range from $5,357 to $8,929 for a new licence to take water from a watercourse or underground
A renewal of a licence will cost between $4,001 and $6,668.
Mr Kelly announced the fees would only apply to the mining and public water supply sectors, but the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation would consult early in the 2018/19 financial year to determine whether the fees would apply to other water-use sectors.
Manjimup and Pemberton Landowners group convener Neil Bartholomaeus said farmers were concerned the state government was using a ‘divide and conquer’ approach to the introduction of the fees.
He claimed the agriculture sector would be targeted next.
“$6,668 to renew a water licence, by what is usually a simple rubber stamp administrative process, is an outrageous water tax grab,” he said.
“The Manjimup and Pemberton Landowners are asking the opposition and cross bench in the Legislative Council to oppose regulations for the high fees, before they are also applied to food producers.
“The water rights of food producers in the eight sub-catchments of the Donnelly River must be restored without delay.”
Mr Kelly said taxpayers were currently paying the $720,000 cost to assess applications from the mining and public water supply sectors each year.
