MEMBER for Murray Helen Dalton says she can't begrudge farmers taking advantage of efficiency programs to build private dams in the Griffith area.
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However, she does believe the governments on all levels need to have more transparency and accountability when it comes to the construction of these private dams.
It was revealed this week in a report from The Australia Institute that 20 to 30 dams have been built on private property in recent years, with the help of taxpayer funds.
According to this report at least 10 of these new dams are located between Griffith and Hay.
"There are several private dams being built around Griffith with the help of taxpayers money," Mrs Dalton said.
"I can't blame farmers for accessing the government's farm efficiency program, but where is the transparency and accountability from government?
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"The federal government has spent $4 billion of our money on this program, but can't answer basic questions like how many dams have been built.
"Why isn't the government spending money on dams for public use?"
The federal agriculture department has claimed new dams collecting recycle irrigation water or replacing shallower dams could help save water, but the institute says three dams it has reviewed do no such thing.
Water Minister David Littleproud has publicly lamented the fact very few new dams have been built since 2003.
There's no doubting dams could be part of a solution into ensuring better water security going into the future, but Mrs Dalton remains concerned private dams for "big corporates" were doing more harm than good.
She said if the government was investing in this type of infrastructure it could afford to assist towns running out of water.
"Griffith volunteers are carting water to dry towns out west and they don't even get the fuel paid for by government," Mrs Dalton said.
"But big corporates get taxpayers money for private dams.
"When (state) parliament sits next week, I'll be asking the water minister to explain this government's warped priorities on water and unveil the secrecy on taxpayer funding for private dams."
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