Language purists have argued that many of the examples used by Ms Morissette were not true cases of irony.

A much clearer case of irony is a local government complaining that their plans have been tied up in red tape.

Wagga City Council has complained that its efforts to quickly shut off Tatton Drain and redirect water to Lake Albert have been delayed by another level of government, with its own layer of bureaucracy.

No doubt many home and business owners who have had their own projects delayed by council's red tape would find the situation amusing if the stakes were not so high.

Wagga Council has substantial community backing for this project as losing more water from Lake Albert would have a profound impact on the quality and usability of the water body.

The Natural Resources Access Regulator, based more than 400 kilometres away in Dubbo, has determined that Wagga Council must jump through similar hoops to an organisation wanting to divert a waterway.

While these additional boxes are being ticked, much-needed rainfall will not be captured by the Tatton Drain scheme.

Algal blooms and fish kills would not only be inconvenient for the region’s water users, it would be a disaster for businesses that rely on visitors and major events at the lake.

Perhaps it would be better for the council and NRAR establish a pre-approved management plan.

Ideally this plan would have enough flexibility that action can be taken on the ground to preserve one of Wagga’s major assets.

While we’re hoping for the best in terms of future rainfall, we need to plan for the worst.

Wagga MP Joe McGirr has joined the push to rediscover common sense in this situation and has contacted NSW Water Minister Niall Blair.

Mr Blair visited Wagga in July to announce drought relief for farmers.

Hopefully he will also appreciate the importance of Lake Albert to Wagga.