Federal Water Minister Murray Watt was in Echuca on Thursday, April, 16, discussing water with representatives from various groups.
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Federal Water Minister Murray Watt has faced irrigation farmers worried about the impact of Commonwealth water buybacks on a visit to northern Victoria.
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Mr Watt attended a forum organised by local government in Echuca and visited a dairy farm south of the town on Thursday, April 16.
In an interview after the meeting Mr Watt acknowledged concerns raised with him about the effect of untargeted water buybacks and their potential impact on food production.
He said the Federal Government was mindful of getting the balance right in the transfer of water to the environment, but he said different parties had differing perspectives on how the balance should sit.
Federal Water Minister Murray Watt was in the Echuca region on Thursday talking to farmers and local government representatives.
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Local councillors and irrigators have also told Mr Watt they wanted to see more emphasis in the Murray-Darling Basin on more effective use of environmental water, rather than just pushing more volume down the streams.
“I understand that it is a view strongly held in this region, and also a desire that if there were any further buybacks that they would be done in a targeted way that tries to spread the load across different regions.”
Mr Watt said he met with a dairy farmer and was impressed by the way the business was focused on efficient use of water in light of reduced water availability and the impact of climate change.
He acknowledged that the region was a major food bowl for the nation and across the world.
“What we want to do as a government is come up with a balanced approach that balances the range of interests in the Murray-Darling Basin, the industries, the communities and the environment.
Federal Water Minister Murray Watt attended a forum in Echuca with representatives from agriculture peak bodies and local government representatives, including Campaspe Shire Council, Murray River Group of Councils and Rural Councils Victoria.
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“It is my intention to see through the current basin plan including the water recovery targets...
“However we are also in the middle of consultation for the new basin plan and a range of other views and I have been clear about the new plan; it doesn’t need to be a carbon copy of the existing plan. There was a lot of discussion about that.”
“What came through was that people wanted to make sure we make better use of the water we have recovered for the environment and there were a few views put forward about that.
“We will give that some further consideration.”
Campaspe Shire councillors and senior staff attended a briefing from the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to discuss the basin plan review process. Council is preparing a submission for this review.
On Thursday morning, council hosted the visit by Mr Watt with representatives from agriculture peak bodies and local government representatives including Campaspe Shire Council, Murray River Group of Councils and Rural Councils Victoria.
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