The Water Corporation and Harvey water have announced that 2.2 billion litres of water currently stored in Logue Brook Dam will be auctioned on February 8 to South West irrigators. The Corporation was allocated the water as part of an agreement with Harvey Water. The water cannot be used for drinking purposes because Logue Dam is used for recreational purposes.
Minister for Water Bill Marmion said that there has been little inflow into South West irrigation dams since the first auction of 5.3 billion litres of water in November 2010.
“It makes sense for the water to be available this summer rather than just leaving it sitting unused in Logue Brook,” Mr Marmion said.
“This temporary water trade will provide a beneficial use for the water at a time when farmers really need as much of their allocation as possible.”
An agreement between the two corporations to permanently swap most of the Water Corporation’s ongoing allocation in Logue Brook to the Sampson and Stirling drinking water dams is expected soon. This is expected to supply additional drinking water to the Integrated Water Supply Scheme.