Councillor Maytom has weighed in on Murrumbidgee Irrigation’s (MI) decision to transfer some of its Leeton jobs to Griffith under a restructure. 

Last week the Australian Workers Union (AWU) estimated it would affect about 15 Leeton employees, but the company has denied that figure. 

Cr Maytom raised the issue at last week’s ordinary council meeting during a mayoral minute. 

“As we all know, Leeton is the birth place of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area,” he said. “If you look at an aerial view of the shire it is almost entirely criss-crossed by canals and channels that serve hundreds of irrigated farms.

“I am concerned this history is being forgotten by MI in its recent decisions to relocate a large part of its workforce to Griffith.

“I appreciate businesses need to run efficiently, but when a company is effectively owned by the users there need to be considerations outside of just dollars.”

Murrumbidgee Irrigation hasn’t provided any further comment on the issue. The AWU has also gone into bat for staff who may be affected. 

Last week AWU organiser Ron Cowdrey said affected staff would be forced to travel a 110 kilometre round trip between Leeton and Griffith every day due to the company’s restructure.

“These workers being forced to commute long distances, with no extra pay, in their in vehicles an in their own time,” he said. Cr Maytom will be writing to MI to seek further clarification on his concerns. 

“Our community deserves to get the same level of service as any other part of the MIA and we need MI to continue to contribute to the commercial activity in Leeton shire,” he said.

“Every time a service is reduced or leaves town it has a flow on effect to local businesses, services, schools, sports clubs.” 

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