OUR new-found respect for water is old news to farmers, Cr Bill Ronald said.

The Central Ward councillor supported Cardinia Shire’s water-saving initiatives but believed they should have been in place 20 years ago. Speaking at the 21 May meeting, Cr Ronald said the rural community had known about the pending water crisis for many years and knew how to prepare.

Cr Ronald criticised state and federal leaders for not acting sooner. The drought had led to a water shortage that put communities at risk, he said.

“It’s an appalling situation. Our water authorities and governments have failed to provide for the future of our communities,” he said.

Cr Ronald, whose family has been part of the local farming community for generations, said he supported additional storage areas for water. Extra storage areas would mean water was available even if it was not falling from the sky, he said.

“It’s not rocket science.”