SEQ farmers say they are being left out of recycled water scheme ...

Ipswich district farmers have begged the government not to forget them in the water debate.

Linton Brimblecombe of the Lockyer Valley Water Users Forum said farmers had been “left out in the cold” in the long-awaited recycled water scheme.

“We're bitterly disappointed with the government's treatment of farmers,” Mr Brimblecombe said.

“There seems to be political will on infrastructure but not in the area of food production.

“I think they're pricing farmers out of the recycled water scheme.”

Scenic Rim Regional Council Mayor John Brent said it was time to “turn our attention to the water for food community”.

“There hasn't been equity in decision-making to this stage. I would have thought we should look at the urban communities and the rural communities as one decision,” Cr Brent said.

“We're looking for some courageous decisions to be made so there aren't two classes of water users: urban and rural. We seem to have forgotten the need for water for food.

“When you suggest farmers pay as much for water as urban users, that's a ridiculous notion.

New LNP leader John-Paul Langbroek added his voice to the debate saying: “People in the Lockyer Valley would really appreciate that recycled water be priced for rural people not just industry.”

See - Qld Times - More water?  No thanks.