ALONG the Murray River we have drainage channels that take salty water away from an elaborate web of tile drains that were placed roughly a metre and a bit deep and are essential in intensive irrigation districts.
When the water cannot get away, roots penetrate pipes and waterlogging occurs, leading to permanent and annual crops dying and tractors getting bogged when trying to spray.
Our drainage systems, connected to channels that are maintained by Goulburn Murray Water, have been thoroughly neglected for years.
Knowing we were in for wetter times, and having drainage issues myself, I have been campaigning to get some action happening for years – and lifted my intensity in the lead-up to these wet periods.
I believe the issue is unfortunately coming from the top of the GMW tree.
The decisions made are not only affecting us, but the morale of the GMW people we continually call, and the maintenance guys we then conduct on the ground to again try to remedy the problem.
Make no mistake, these people are trying their best.
But it will be disappointing if a class action is the only way to reprioritise this poor management.
I can already hear the responses, unprecedented rainfall, and one in 100-year event, but it is simply poor decision-making and poor prioritisation leading to a drainage system that wasn’t coping even with the small rain events in late winter.
Vines were growing slowly during the cooler start to spring and are now requiring heaps of spray applications and with rain events still forecast for a significant time ahead. It will be tough to keep the bugs and fungus at bay.
There is nothing worse than chips in your windscreen of the car or ute, but I have plenty in my tractor, even on the side windows.
Surprisingly it’s only been noticed since the wet spring and while the mosquitoes have been so prolific.
Then I noticed little woodpecker sounds and actually observed mosquitoes doing the woodpecker thing chipping at the glass, trying to get in.
There is a lot going on. All the best with crops of all types, but unfortunately there’s more rain to come.
And please, always talk to your mates.
