Cranbourne’s Anco Turf Farm owner John Cotter looks to the skies as his business struggles with new water restrictions.
By Sarah Schwager
A CRANBOURNE turf farm could be put out of business after the introduction of tough new water restrictions.
Anco Turf Farm, which has been operating locally for 30 years, could face extinction as it has not been able to qualify for exemptions under Stage 3 restrictions.
While the farm uses all Class A recycled water to grow its stock, it has been unable to attract customers, who would not be able to water their new lawns.
Anco Turf Farm owner John Cotter said the business had been placed in a very difficult position.
“We are looking at having to fire half of our 35 staff,” he said.
Last week the company met with major water companies, including South East Water, to discuss the exemptions, which would allow people to water their new lawns, similar to the exemptions under Stage 2 restrictions.
Mr Cotter, who is also Victorian branch president of Turf Producers Australia, said the industry had known about Stage 3 impacts for a long time and had been negotiating with the State Government for the past five years.
But Mr Cotter said the turf industry was not recognised by the State Government and so far he had not received a response from Water Minister John Thwaites.
“They don’t believe we’re an industry and they don’t believe we matter,” he said. “It is a very frustrating exercise.”
Geoff Fraser, spokesman for Mr Thwaites, said the new restrictions were always going to affect some sections of the community.
“We acknowledge that some parts of the turf industry will be impacted by drought,” Mr Fraser said. “While we will continue to work with them, they won’t get exemptions from the statutory water restrictions.”
Mr Cotter said other “green” industries would also be affected under the water restrictions, such as nurseries, lawn mowers and landscaping companies.
But Mr Fraser said businesses such as nurseries had shown great cooperation with the Government.
“They are selling mulch, native plants, water tanks and dripper systems and taking advantage of the Government’s rebate on these products to make savings,” he said.
Mr Cotter said he did not understand why turf farms did not receive the same exemptions as industrial carwashes, which he said used far more water than the turf industry did.
“This is an industry which lays turf on the MCG, Telstra Dome, Flemington Racecourse. What happens when they can no longer operate?” he said.
With Stage 3 water restrictions shaking up local businesses and residents, Stage 4 restrictions look to be introduced as early as April.
Under Stage 4 restrictions, all watering of gardens and sportsgrounds will be banned.
Mr Cotter said the reservoirs did not normally fill until the end of July.
“There is no way they (water levels) are going to go up between now and then,” he said.
Mr Cotter said the Government needed to decide what it was going to do now – not later – to replenish Melbourne’s water supply, whether that be recycling grey water, building a desalination plant or any other viable option.
