Professor of Irrigation at Charles Sturt University (CSU) Graeme Batten says the issue over the future use of the country’s scarce water resources must not be left to a two-sided argument of irrigators versus environmentalists.

He warns that such a debate is negative and self defeating.

The CSU academic says the efficient use of water in irrigation must meet the best interests of both the environment and the community. 

“Too much of the argument over water management concentrates on the dollars generated at the farm gate, which is only the beginning of the value adding journey food makes from producers to consumers,” said Professor Batten. 

Charles Sturt University is further strengthening its water research, with the appointment of three new professorial chairs at CSU, two of which are in partnership with CSIRO. The chairs will be examining aquatic ecology, water policy and environmental management and water use in the Murray-Darling Basin.