Cowra district water carter, Michelle Walker of Wayne Walker Water Cartage said the cost of bulk water from council’s water standpipe will increase from $1.55 a kilolitre last year to $6.30 a kilolitre this financial year.

Mrs Walker successfully campaigned for the council to reduce the charge last year and is calling on district farmers to make written submissions to the council whilst the draft plan is on public exhibition.

Mrs Walker had the charge altered last year after the management plan had been approved, successfully arguing that the district’s water carters had not been informed of the increase.

As a result they had not been passing on the increased charge to farmers.

The Walkers say that if the charge is approved this year they will have no choice but to pass on the extra cost to farmers.

“It is up to the district farmers to let the council know that they find the charge unacceptable,” Mrs Walker said.

“We are already having to pass fuel price increases on to our customers,” she said.

According to Mrs Walker farmers will be asked to pay an extra $52.30 per load of water if the draft management plan is approved.

In November last year, after representations from Mrs Walker, the council reduced the standpipe charge to $1.55 a kilolitre.