Producers are warning that the New South Wales government's plans to cut the amount of floodplain water available in the state's north will have a devastating impact on Queensland and New South Wales' cross-border economies.
The rollout of floodplain harvesting amendments that change accounting rules for irrigators will see them lose up to 50 per cent of their water allocation if their property falls on the southern side of the border, forcing them to question the longevity of operations in the region.
Irrigators in the drought ravaged region rely on floodplain harvesting during scarce wet seasons to help bounce back from years of limited production.
Goondiwindi Mayor Lawrence Springborg said the impact of producers leaving the region will cost the community "tens of millions".
"Many local producers are now looking at moving their operations to central Queensland or the Northern Territory to avoid the New South Wales government's regulation," Cr Springborg said.
"It will have a serious impact both sides of the border and will smash Goondiwindi's local economy."
Local irrigators association Border Rivers Food & Fibre's independent economist estimates from every 1000 megalitres of water removed from the region's productive capacity, the community will lose four to six jobs.
Boggabilla farmer Brendan Griffiths operates a small scale cotton and grains farm and said the amendments are making him reconsider his future in the area.
"It's disastrous for our productive capacity, but our real concern is the flow on effect back into the community," he said.
"We haven't been able to take any floodplain water since March 2017, and now we're going into our fourth year of extremely limited production."
"Drought has left our community hanging by a thread. Now when we have the ability to rebound a little with irrigation, something we have always historically been able to do, the regulation is reducing our capacity to recover from drought."
Border Rivers Food & Fibre executive officer Tim Napier said the changes are killing the future of industry in the region.
"It's been a process that has taken 20 years, and it's regulating producers out of existence," he said.
"We are a border community and a border economy. Goondiwindi might sit in Queensland but it gets a lot of its business from the other side of the river. This will effect all irrigation dependent communities on the border.
"Our irrigators are now looking at moving out of the area entirely, that's what is being contemplated at the moment. This isn't a haircut, it's an undermining of industry."