“I asked Melinda Pavey about the future of the basin and the potential for the situation to go on for some time yet,” he said.
“I asked questions of the expected reduction of inflows and how it would affect the sustainable diversion limits, given they are expected to drop by 3000GL.
“I was told the MDBP would have a review in 2026 and that was the best she could offer in terms of forward planning.”
Councillor Gen Campbell said it was time farmers received an emergency water allocation, given the region was responsible for the nation's staples such as pasta and rice.
“What we grow in this region is flying off the shelves of the supermarket and supply is limited,” she said.
“I really do believe this plan needs an urgent review and farmers should be considered for an emergency water allocation so we can grow the crops that supply all of Australia.
“Especially given that we are Australia's food bowl and we don't know if this coronavirus is going to last six months or 12 months or what the outcome will be.”
Councillor Weyrich said it was paramount farmers got some water to grow produce.
“It’s just disastrous this Murray Darling Basin Plan,” he said.
“I've said it before and I’ll continue to say it, accolades to the people who are trying.
“I just can’t comprehend what they’re doing to us, they know we’re hurting, they know we’re on our knees, the farming community in particular.
“There are so many pieces to this it's unbelievable and yet they still turn us down, it makes me wonder what country I’m living in.”
Mayor Bilkey said the recently released Sefton report on the social impact of the Basin Plan reinforced that the MDBA had grossly underestimated the impact on communities.
“Particularly along the Southern Riverina and the Darling, they are being dealt very serious blows, but there are no recommendations for how to fix it,” he said.
Council Weyrich added the plan was not just a disaster for farmers, but also the tourism industry.
“The river is very low and algae has been a problem in the past, Easter is approaching and given that international travel has all but stopped I think a lot of people will be looking to the river and it’s just not what it should be.”
