Swimming or playing in irrigation channels is discouraged for good reasons.

They may appear to be a tempting place to cool off on a hot day but it's simply not worth the risk.

There are many hidden dangers that make irrigation channels a treacherous place to swim including strong undercurrents, varying channel depths, snakes and submerged objects.

Regulator gates can open without notice and create a trap, while siphons and pipes can create powerful suction or a water surge.

MIA residents are advised to make use of safer alternatives for swimming such as local public pools and to make sure that children are taught early how to swim.

Public pools provide qualified staff members that are on hand to supervise swimmers.

Australians love the outdoors and swimming but accidents can and do occur.

No matter how experienced a swimmer you are, always be alert around water.

The following general swimming precautions could help save a life: don’t swim in irrigation channels; avoid fast flowing water; beware of submerged objects; don’t dive into water of unknown depth; know where young children are and never leave them unattended around water; and never swim alone.

Brett Jones

Chief executive officer

Murrumbidgee Irrigation 

AMENDMENTS to the Basin Plan proposed by the opposition are not helpful to reaching a long-term triple bottom line outcome.

The Shadow Minister for Water has said he is considering introducing an amendment formally linking the 450GL of water known as “up water” to the 650GL “down water” provision. 

The legislation and agreements governing this process already include significant hurdles to achieving the sustainable diversion limit (SDL) reductions needed for the 650GL “down water”. 

These include the ability of a party to the agreement blocking any, or all of, the SDL initiatives if they are not happy.

That puts the power with the basin states, including South Australia.

 Shadow Minister Burke was the minister who delivered this agreement and it is not surprising that he has deep and passionate views.

But he must also recognise that there will continue to be robust debate – as there was when he was minister. 

It is important that robust debate doesn’t produce an overreaction which breaks down the federal bipartisanship that made the agreement possible.

The view of basin communities and irrigators – including NIC’s South Australian members - is it is reasonable to demand delivery of the assurance made by then Prime Minister Gillard and then Minister Burke, that they would “ensure there is no social and economic downside for communities”.

NIC is concerned that the impact test, based as it is on an individual property owner participating in water recovery, does not adequately meet a commitment to “communities”. 

We all need to learn from the experience of implementing the first part of the plan.

MDBA Northern Basin studies are now confirming significant socio economic impacts. That information wasn’t there when the legislation passed Parliament. 

In the past Mr Burke has shown a deep understanding of broad community impacts on Basin communities.

NIC would hope he can acknowledge the potential for flaws in the current legislated test.

Steve Whan 

Chief executive officer 

National Irrigators’ Council