COLIBAN Water chairman John Brooke has been
accused of using scare tactics and bullying to urge irrigators to sign up to the state government’s foodbowl modernisation plan.
During a meeting of more than 200 irrigators in Pyramid Hill, Mr Brooke, who is also a director of Goulburn Murray Water, a member of the foodbowl modernisation steering committee and the state’s Drought Reference Committee, inferred not signing up to the government’s plan could lead to banks calling in debts.
“One of the committees I sit on has representatives from the Australian Bankers Association and the Rural
Finance Corporation,” he said.
“What they say is the debt levels of farmers are now so high that in the very near future many farms will have their debt levels called up by the banks.”
One of the main planks of the modernisation plan is the automation of the main irrigation trunks. Mr Brooke said that needed to be done to avoid the banks moving in.
ABA acting chief executive officer Ian Gilbert rejected Mr Brooke’s comments.
“I would like to reassure the rural community that there is no widespread
action contemplated across the board by Australian banks against farmers who are struggling with this long drought,” he said.
“I am also unaware which meeting Mr Brooke may be referring to when making his comments. The banks and state and federal governments all have programs in place to assist those who are suffering financial difficulties.”

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“As a result, foreclosures within the banking sector remain at historic lows.
“At any meetings held to discuss the drought whether it be at a state or federal level, the ABA has always emphasised the importance of farmers keeping an open dialogue with their banks throughout this difficult time.”
Rural Finance also denied the claims.
Irrigators at the meeting criticised Mr Brooke’s comments and labelled his manner during the discussions as aggressive and offensive.
“Some of the irrigators were moved to ring their banks the next day to check if Mr Brooke’s comments were correct,” irrigator Alison Bassed said.
“It appears the banking sector attitude is Mr Brooke had no authority to speak for them and his comments regarding the solvency of the district’s farm businesses were incorrect.
“With this attitude of total disregard for the truth, Mr Brooke is no longer a fit and proper person to be a director of GMW or chairman of Coliban.”
One prominent irrigator and  community leader agreed.
“The inference the meeting got was we would foreclose unless we adopted the food bowl plan,” he said.
“A lot of people were very upset. I think he did himself  an enormous amount of damage.
“He has done a lot in the past in terns of public service, but I would want a director of Coliban Water who was on my side.”
Mr Brooke’s  manner at the meeting  was also questioned.
“He was very, very aggressive. He was extremely aggressive, almost bully-boy tactics” Mrs Bassed said.
“At one stage he pumped his arms up and down and said ‘C’mon, bring it on, bring it on’.”
Mr Brooke denied he was aggressive.
“I wasn’t really aggressive, I didn’t think,” he said.
“I only bit back at a man who used obscene language to me.”
Mr Brooke said he stood by his comments about the banks, but was quoted out of context.
“What I said is really unremarkable,” he said.
“This (foodbowl plan) gives everyone the best opportunity of attracting new investment and keep investment here for those who are already here.
“If banks aren’t comfortable with the equity levels they will do something about it.”
“As a result, foreclosures within the banking sector remain at historic lows.
“At any meetings held to discuss the drought whether it be at a state or federal level, the ABA has always emphasised the importance of farmers keeping an open dialogue with their banks throughout this difficult time.”
Rural Finance also denied the claims.
Irrigators at the meeting criticised Mr Brooke’s comments and labelled his manner during the discussions as aggressive and offensive.
“Some of the irrigators were moved to ring their banks the next day to check if Mr Brooke’s comments were correct,” irrigator Alison Bassed said.
“It appears the banking sector attitude is Mr Brooke had no authority to speak for them and his comments regarding the solvency of the district’s farm businesses were incorrect.
“With this attitude of total disregard for the truth, Mr Brooke is no longer a fit and proper person to be a director of GMW or chairman of Coliban.”
One prominent irrigator and  community leader agreed.
“The inference the meeting got was we would foreclose unless we adopted the food bowl plan,” he said.
“A lot of people were very upset. I think he did himself  an enormous amount of damage.
“He has done a lot in the past in terms of public service but I would want a director of Coliban Water who was on my side.”
Mr Brooke’s  manner at the meeting  was also questioned.
“He was very, very aggressive. He was extremely aggressive, almost bully-boy tactics,” Mrs Bassed said.
“At one stage he pumped his arms up and down and said ‘C’mon, bring it on, bring it on’.”
Mr Brooke denied he was aggressive.
“I wasn’t really aggressive, I didn’t think,” he said.
“I only bit back at a man who used obscene language to me.”
Mr Brooke said he stood by his comments about the banks but was quoted out of context.
“What I said is really unremarkable,” he said.
“This (foodbowl plan) gives everyone the best
opportunity of attracting new investment and keeping investment here for those who are already here.
“If banks aren’t comfortable with the equity levels they will do something about it.”