WHAT they said at the Deniliquin and Griffith meetings to discuss the Murray Darling Basin draft plan.

DENILIQUIN, NSW

Russell Tait, Deniliquin

It's all just political. There are no answers, it's all just bulls**t. It affects the whole community. The generations of people brought up here are resilient and they don't need the political crap from either side of politics to appease the Greens. To me it's pretty simple - go and concentrate on something else.

Ruth Wade, Ricegrower's Association of Australia, Leeton

It was extremely valuabe to hear the voice of the people at the Griffith meeting. Griffith did us proud - they are quite passionate. In Deniliquin they have seen the reopening of the rice mill. People have got long memories about how tough it was without water. This southern system has a big target on its forehead.

Duncan Fraser, National Farmers Federation vice president, Hay

In the past 20 years Hay has focused on irrigation. Quite a substantial rice industry was established there in the early 1990s, and we were told to use the water or lose it. Local suppliers have been devastatingly affected by drought and water cut backs. I'm a stranded irrigator on a private scheme and I can't irrigate now. On the issue of environmental water, we (the NFF) want to know how accountable they (the environmental water holder) are, where it's to be placed and how much. We share the concerns of other water users that the environmental water user may operate under a different set of rules.

Gerard Lahy, Wakool

I'm looking at 37 per cent less water I can use each year. The cost of water delivered to me will get dearer and I can't pass on those costs. All our services, school student numbers will drop off. Nothing has changed since last year, the numbers are still the same.

Les Gillespie, Finley

I'm a rice grower and am here for our future. If they were taking water this much water out of Sydney, the would get their tits in a tangle. They think we don't matter, it's pure garbage. It will increase my costs and pressures. It will wreck Finley, the drought hasn't helped, it's not looking good.

Clive Henderson, Wakool

I'm a hobby farmer and semi-retired, and am interested as we've got to keep food production going. This plan will take this area back to a dust bowl. There has got to be a friendly balance between farming and the environment. There has to be room for both.

Phyllis Ball, Mayrung

This plan is totally politically driven. It will take water from willing sellers and create what they call the swiss cheese effect. Those that are left wll be paying higher costs. It will devastate this town (Deniliquin) and that's evident by the number of people here, not just farmers but business people. Already some developments in Griffith have been put on hold because of the basin plan. It's a total political exercise.

GRIFFITH, NSW

Bevin Sleep, Coleambally

All our livelihoods depend on this plan. If it takes the water, it will shut down the community. I have worked for Coleambally Irrigation and do hay contracting. Nothing has been achieved since last year's meeting in Griffith. They have upgraded the figures and have came up with the same result.

Greg McRae, Griffith

I'm a third generation farmer and grape grower. I have come here to support the community, farmers and businesses. It's going to kill us if they take our water. It will mean 30 per cent less grapes and less profit. I hope they listen to us. The draft plan has a lot of flaws in the science. Australia is a country of drought and flooding rains. Look at the river now - the frickin' frogs keep me awake at night.

Les Brown, Griffith

I'm a retired stock and station agent and have come because I can see the effect of the plan on the whole irrigation system. We are already seeing the results of it now. It has knocked the value of properties and homes. People haven't got confidence to go ahead and buy at this stage.

Frank Lamond, Griffith

I was an irrigation farmer at Berembah for 45 years. We have made water savings over the years by spending money on infrastructure such as land levelling and better irrigation systems. We now use half of the water we used to. I believe it's a travesty to take the water. Irrigation water has converted worthless land into an oasis. Griffith is a self-funded town developed by the hard work of farmers. It's environmental vandalism as far as I'm concerned.

Terry O'Connor, Griffith

I am a builder in Griffith - the housing market has been devalued here quite a bit. Homes worth $400,000 have lost $60,000 worth of value. Building work has slowed. We are a small building company into home renovations and have noticed the affect on the average man on the street. I'm here today to make up the numbers - the majority need to speak out and hopefully the government will listen.

Morris Lane, Griffith

I have a shoe shop in the main street and we don't want to lose customers. If the water leaves, people will leave. Those willing sellers will take the money and there is no guarantee they will stay in Griffith. Griffith is a dynamic town. Once the draft basin plan came along, it just stopped. There has been a flow on effect to the retailers.

Kevin Mannes, Coleambally

I am a rice grower - we can't survive without the water. The plan will take 40 per cent of water in our area and will drive us off our rice farm. It is the biggest threat to our business.

Francis Perre, Griffith

We have closed our nursery operation for the day because we need a future for my kids. I want the town to stay open - if they take the water there will be no future and the town will suffer. Where will our kids go? There will be no farming, no vegetables or fruit. We have to fight for it - we need our livelihoods to keep us going.

Sonia Callipara, Griffith

I am the treasurer for the Griffith Business Chamber and we are putting black armbands on people to signify the death of basin communities. We estimate 279 businesses have closed in protest and we had another 10 emails so at least 290 have closed. There are over 400 businesses in the town of 22,000 people. If 7000 people are here today that would compare population-wise to filling the Melbourne Cricket Ground five times. Communities are united and understand this plan is not good for our economy or our future.

David Cox, Hay

I'm an irrigator and am here to keep the survival of the river towns.It will not affect me personally as I'm not a willing seller.No one wants to sell their water.I came to the first meeting here and there were no answers.I came along today to listen to what's changed from the last one.If one third of our water is taken, one in three irrigators will exit and one in three shops will close.