Far North Queensland farmers are concerned about water releases from the Tinaroo dam.

Queensland’s Department of Natural Resources and Mines says its release of 7,400 megalitres worth of “environmental flows” continues to fulfil the water security and environmental objectives of the Barron Water Plan.

The water releases serve several purposes, including providing drinking water for the town of Mareeba, the Stanwell power station and maintaining a healthy river.

At the same time, irrigators are cutting back on production due to lower water allocations and a drought-declared status.

The DNRM says it is a “very small” portion of the Tinaroo dam.

“Releases are reviewed monthly and while this release will continue throughout August, it is likely that dam levels will fall sufficiently to reduce releases in September in accord with the operating rules,” a DNRM spokesperson said.

DNRM officers say they have had a “robust discussion” with Mareeba Dimbulah Irrigators Advisory Committee (MDIAC) and SunWater.

MDIAC chairman Joe Moro says the group will ask Minister Dr Anthony Lynham for a review.

“Irrigators were not overly impressed with the reasons why this needs to be done,” he said.

“We will have to argue the case with consultants from scientific point of view that the current plan has got an error in its calculation.”