MEMBER for Lowan Hugh Delahunty has assured farmers that changes to the Water Bill 2014 will have little impact on their commercial operations.
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Patyah yabby farmer Trevor Domaschenz has called for more information about changes to the bill, fearing he could lose his right to farm.
He said changes in the Water Bill 2014 could force farmers who used their dams for commercial reasons to pay for that water.
Mr Delahunty said contrary to claims, the Water Bill 2014 which is currently before parliament made no change to existing legislative requirements for commercial aquaculture.
"A water entitlement, such as a take and use licence, is already legally required for aquaculture under the current Water Act 1989 along with dairies, piggeries, feed lots, poultry or any other intensive or commercial use," he said.
"The bill simply clarifies this and consolidates the Water Act 1989 and the Water Industry Act 1994 into a single act."
Mr Delahunty said he wanted to ensure there was no confusion for existing water users.
"We want to promote a clear understanding of where a farm dam licence is required," he said.
"For commercial use, a licence has been legally required since the early 2000s.
"The bill will ensure we have legislation that is modern, logical and easy to use and understand."
However, Mr Domaschenz is not convinced and said a section of the bill stated 'the minister may cancel a water use registration if the minister reasonably believes that water has not been used on the land specified in the registration for the purposes for which use of water is authorised by the registration for the preceding period of 10 years'.
"Of the 30-odd farmers around the district, only two will retain their licences under that clause," he said.
"This is not just yabbies, this is a right to farm in an area where we have been forced to licence our dams as commercial."
Mr Domaschenz said he would write to politicians about his concerns.
He has been battling government regulations for many years, after seafood regulator PrimeSafe changed licensing regulations, making it difficult for him to sell yabbies after 20 years in the industry.
After taking the seafood regulator to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, a court order against PrimeSafe cleared the way for him to sell yabbies again
