The Murray River Group of Councils is advocating for outcomes that support healthy rivers and strong regional communities.
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority has opened a three-month review of the multi-billion-dollar basin plan with a 100-page discussion paper.
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The basin plan was developed to ensure water could be sustainably shared between the people who use it and the environment.
The authority is required to do a review of the plan 10 years after it was implemented.
The discussion paper calls for feedback before the May 1 deadline.
Speaking to the media this week, MDBA chief executive Andrew McConville said the authority would be visiting basin communities over the next few months.
Mr McConville emphasised that the contents of the discussion paper were not decisions but were designed to stimulate feedback to guide the future direction of the plan.
“Through the discussion paper, the authority has explored progress that has been made to date and considered some of the issues and challenges for the basin as we look forward over the next decade,” he said.
“The basin plan has delivered real benefits, and we are starting to see improvements in some of the basin’s most important rivers and wetlands.
“But the evidence is also clear that climate change, ageing infrastructure, disconnected floodplains, declining native fish and poor water quality mean we need to do some things differently.”
The Murray River Group of Councils — which encompasses Gannawarra, Loddon, Campaspe and Moira shire councils, along with Mildura and Swan Hill rural city councils — are advocating for outcomes that support healthy rivers and strong regional communities.
Murray River Group of Councils chair Stuart King.
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Group chairperson Stuart King said the review marked a critical moment for the future of the Murray-Darling Basin — a system that underpins our environment, agriculture, towns and regional economies.
“The Murray River Group of Councils recognises the importance of achieving a balanced approach that protects the health of the river while also sustaining vibrant communities and productive industries that rely on it every day,’’ he said.
“We are strongly encouraging everyone with an interest in the basin — from irrigators and environmental groups to tourism operators and residents — to read the review and lodge a submission.
“Local knowledge matters. The lived experience of basin communities provides essential insight into how water policy works on the ground and helps ensure future decisions are practical, fair and sustainable.’’
National Irrigators’ Council chief executive Zara Lowien said the discussion paper should serve as an important wake-up call to the Federal Government, which she said continued to use old tools for today’s challenges.
“The paper found that most sustainable diversion limits are meeting environmental outcomes and further investigation would be needed in some areas to consider the complexity of environmental drivers other than water flows — again signalling the need for a new approach, beyond 'just adding water' for the basin,” Ms Lowien said.
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