Dear Editor,
In response to Robert Burbury’s letter claiming overwhelming support at the recent MIL general meeting (’MIL director takes feedback on board’, Deniliquin Pastoral Times, Friday, April 19), I would hardly call a 15 per cent margin overwhelming and it is extremely disappointing that his `side’ chose to resort to smearing the reputation of a fellow director to gain voter support.
The four points he claims to be hearing from feedback seem to be very similar to what the board have been pushing at us shareholders for the last 12 months, and what has caused a lot of the unrest.
The main points I have taken from the meetings I have attended are:
1. Negotiate a fair and equitable agreement with government for the use of the Mulwala canal to deliver water to meet downstream commitments (which is a task that was assigned to Mr Burbury many months ago and we are still waiting for a result).
2. Reinstate MIL funding to Southern Riverina Irrigators and local landholder groups so we can communicate our opinions to the board and the government (it was taken away because they did not like what they were being told, similar to a dictatorship).
3. Reward people who hold MIL delivery entitlements by making them an asset instead of a liability.
4. If you must sell our water, at least keep it in the MIL network; ie. Not to investors, water brokers or government.
Us irrigators have a very challenging time ahead of us, a government wanting to take our water away and a CEO and board at MIL that simply refuses to listen.
Yours etc.
Laurie Beer
Mayrung