They have congratulated the Speak Up Campaign for organising the December 14 rally, as well as everyone who participated.
It was held in conjunction with a meeting of state and federal Water Ministers (known as MinCo) and saw hundreds of people marching and chanting along Collins St, Melbourne, before gathering outside the Park Hyatt where the meeting was held.
Berrigan Shire mayor Matt Hannan, who participated in the march and rally, congratulated the Speak Up Campaign for the huge amount of work which was involved in organising the event.
He spoke on behalf of four councils in southern NSW — Berrigan Shire, Edward River, Murray River and Murrumbidgee — who are all members of the Murray Regional Strategy Group campaigning for water policy that protects regional communities.
‘‘When I participated in the rally I could sense the pride of our communities, as well as a high level of frustration and a determination to get a fair go,’’ Cr Hannan said.
‘‘We have been let down by the basin plan, governments and the Murray Darling Basin Authority which is responsible for its implementation.
‘‘We wanted our message and our voices heard; there’s no doubt that was achieved.’’
Cr Hannan added that bringing together and co-ordinating communities from across the NSW Murray, Murrumbidgee, northern Victoria and Goulburn Valley was not an easy task.
‘‘My congratulations to the organisers for their outstanding work, as well as everyone who was up early in the morning, some before 4am, to get to Southern Cross in time to march.’’
Cr Hannan said Australia’s food bowl and the communities which rely on farm production are under attack from a basin plan that is failing the nation.
Melbourne residents were made aware that these are the people who put food on the city tables and clothes on the backs of its people, and there must be a policy shift to allow this to continue.
He acknowledged that ministers had taken a step in the right direction with the neutrality test at MinCo, but offered a word of caution.
‘‘While we thank the ministers for agreeing that rigorous criteria is needed to protect communities from further water recovery, there are still many facets of the basin plan which need urgent attention to ensure balance is restored to the plan and our communities,’’ Cr Hannan said.
‘‘Our farmers want to get back to doing what they do so well, which is putting food on the table of Australians, plus other people throughout the world.
‘‘They cannot do this if water is poured down the river and out to sea, causing environmental damage along the way.
‘‘On behalf of the four mayors in southern New South Wales I call on governments to adopt a practical, common-sense approach to the basin plan in 2019.
‘‘Work with our communities, not against us, to protect both our environment and our prosperity.’’
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