The Environment Centre NT has accused pro-cotton groups of not understanding water allocation laws in their irrigation plans for Katherine and the Douglas Daly.
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NT Cotton Growers Association chairman Bruce Connolly said on December 10 plans for a cotton industry in the Katherine region would follow environmental rules where most of the NT's water is left alone.
"Water is a natural resource managed by the government," he said.
"With the 80-20 ideal in the Northern Territory, 80 percent is already earmarked to stay in the water courses for environmental purposes ... the irrigators are right down the end and they get the last go."
However ECNT rivers campaigner and marine ecologist Jason Fowler said NT Farmers Association have lobbied the NT government to allow 520GL (520 billion litres) to be extracted from the Douglas Daly catchment for crops like cotton.
"The plan to take an extra 520GL from the Douglas Daly region for broadacre cotton crops will blow the 80:20 rule out of the water," Mr Fowler said.
"Our two existing water allocation plans allow for a total of 135GL of water."
He said this would be nearly four times what is currently allowed to be extracted for consumption.
NT Farmer's Association have publicly backed the development of the cotton industry in Katherine and the broader Territory.
An NT Farmer's economic impact report highlights the available 520GL of water in the Douglas Daly and singles out cotton as critical to utilising it.
In a statement NT Farmers Association chief executive officer Paul Burke said the 520GL of water is within the 80-20 limits for the region.
"520GL is based on median rainwater modelling for the last 60 years from the NT Government, it takes into account seasonal variations and rainfall trends," he said.
"According to our calculations, even during dry years 520GL will potentially be available under the 80-20 rule."
Mr Burke said while 520GL is available, some of the water may not be utilised if NT Farmers' proposal is successful.
Paul Burke has previously said 80 percent of cotton in the NT would be rain fed, and not rely on irrigated water.
Last wet season in Katherine and the Douglas Daly both saw below average rainfall, with Katherine's being the worst wet in decades.
The entire NT also underwent its hottest November on record last month which also so 55 percent less rain than average.
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