WATER – THE TIME BOMB TICKING OVER FOR AUSTRALIA

”Whiskies for drinking and water’s for fighting over” - 19th century Californian goldfields saying

With Australia being the driest continent on earth, combined with my farm upbringing and having lived aboard a yacht for a number of years, both where water usage and retention was paramount, the subject of water is naturally dear to my heart.

So it is with increasing alarm that I look at what as developments in this most valuable of all natural assets-

(1) - The sale of Snowy Hydro :

Just how nonsensical this move by primarily the NSW Government is was graphically illustrated to me when I heard on ABC radio today about the apparent bid by Macquarie Bank to purchase Patricks, the large shipping conglomerate and which looked last week to being taken over by Toll Holdings.

Does anyone with even half a brain and a modicum of understanding of the rapacious nature of Big Business in chasing that almighty dollar think for even a nanosecond that Macquarie Bank et al would not be interested in swooping in and gaining control of Snowy Hydro and with that, not only an asset we as taxpayers paid for but also one that has a massive influence on our future in so many directions.

Why should we be bear responsibility, through the sale of State owned assets, of paying for politicians ineptitude as is shown more and more a la by former Premier Bob Carr and his team ?

Surely it is time to say ”enough is enough” and hands off OUR infrastructure!

(2) - Sydney’s water situation

With Premier Morris Dilemma’s announcement today of “the worlds biggest recycling plant” to be built in western Sydney, no doubt he hopes this will cool the ardour of those such as myself who are constantly carping about the NSW Governments lack of long term infrastructure planning, instead choosing to react to every hiccup by some short term announcement.

A classic example was the Kurnell Desalination plant that somehow the pollies figured you can just turn on and off as the Warragamba Dam water level rises and falls.

Just how far from the truth this is staggers me ,for having run reverse osmosis equipment on a yacht supplying just 8 litres an hour, let alone the mega millions of litres that a plant for Sydney will require, I can assure you there is no constant “turn on/turn off” and the running costs and maintenance are enormous.

Back to the drawing board here lads!

(3) – the sale of water rights

If ever there was scheme designed to help the money crunchers (most if whom are central CBD based and couldn’t give a stuff about the bush) and react against those whose need is the greatest, this scheme has to be it.

Whilst I readily admit is has sent the value or rural properties with water storage soaring (in some cases up by $9 million) and therefore as an auctioneer it helps earn commission, it angers me that such a vital commodity can become a plaything for the rich and well heeled such as mining companies, large pastoral concerns that simply store and sit on their supply and commodity traders where it is seen in the same light as coffee, wheat etc.

The rub really comes when, as I read in The Sydney Morning Herald report that small dairy farmers in the Hunter River may have to sell up as water they normally had access to has been purchased for up to $2500 a megalitre by mining companies and thoroughbred horse studs who’s value of it was considerably higher.

Yes, I know this is market forces we are talking about but economic rationalism has to have its limits for it doesn’t, the gap between rich and poor will increase even further and we as a nation will pay the penalty for that somewhere down the track.

OUR COUNTRY- KANGAROO VALLEY (NSW)

There are many pretty spots across Australian and the small hamlet of Kangaroo Valley, just over the Cambewarra Range from Nowra, in the Shoalhaven area of NSW would have to be up there amongst them.

As you either drive up the 2250’ Cambewarra Range and look back at the summit

over the Shoalhaven River to where it meets the Tasman Sea at Shoalhaven Heads to way down south towards beautiful Jervis Bay or conversely come down the western side of the Range from Bowral or Moss Vale, the vista of this cliff lined valley is superb.

Now home to many well heeled inhabitants, it is just under 2 hours by road from Sydney and a lifetime away in ambience and lifestyle. To get to the hamlet, you cross over the magnificent

Hampden Bridge, built in the late 1800’s and a real eye catcher.

Just to the west of Kangaroo Valley hamlet is Barrengarry, a settlement of just two houses BUT, and it’s a big BUT, it is also where “The Old Store and Post Office”,the home of the self proclaimed “ world’s best pies”, is and ooperates from.

Now being a pie man from way, way back ( what livestock auctioneer isn't/wasn't I hear you say), the challenge was on as I came by today in the Pug 206.

The range of pies includes traditional aussie/ beef and red wine/steak and mushrooms/country lamb/creamy chicken/curried vegetables and hot chilli co carne

And after having stopped and sampled, my choice being country lamb??

Yep, they are good. Darn good in fact and certainly are contenders for that accolade.

At $5.60 each they are not cheap but, as the old saying goes ”quality costs” but boy, was it good! They are all hand made and baked on the premises and find a ready clientele from locals and those ”in the know”.

For more information, simply email them on www.barrengarrypo@shoal.net.au or phone on (02) 4465 1360.Maybe they "export" from Barrengarry??

So if a Sunday drive down through the Illawarra and Shoalhaven districts, including Kangaroo Valley, is on your ”drive by” list, make sure you also stop at Barrengarry and see if you agree with my judgement.

Carpe diem

Tony

Tony Fountain

Professional Speaker, auctioneer and author

Sydney NSW Australia

If you would like to subscribe a friend or colleague to these free “On the Wallaby” email bulletins, click here and place their email address in the subscription box .