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Basin plan fury

Posted on December 2, 2011

BY BEN PISCIONERI

THE Murray Darling Basin Authority’s second attempt at a draft plan for rivers management released this week appears to have upset more people than the original.

Last year’s plan, which detailed reductions in surface water usage of between 3000 and 4000 gigalitres outraged many irrigators, sparking large protests at each of the controversial consultation meetings held in the wake of its release.

The new plan, which proposes cuts of 2750 gigalitres per year by 2019 still has many irrigators angry, but has also upset the environmentalists, who claim this figure falls well short of what is needed for the survival of the Murray Darling system.

Almost half of this water has already been recovered through water buy-backs and more efficient water infrastructure.

But that still leaves 1468 gigalitres per year across the Basin to meet the authority’s proposed limits on surface water use.

The Authority claims 400 gigalitres can be recovered through “future investments in water-saving infrastructure”, leaving 1000 gigalitres, which it says must be recovered through “other measures”, most likely water buy-backs, still a significant amount of water.

It stressed there would be no compulsory acquisition of water, claiming the Federal Government was “committed to bridge the gap through water-saving infrastructure and water purchases from voluntary sellers.”

“Based on the Authority’s socio-economic analyses, recovering this volume through water purchases alone could have serious detrimental effects in communities that rely heavily on irrigated agriculture,” it said.

But many Sunraysia-based irrigators say uncertainty over water security created by the plan is, and will continue to have detrimental effects on communities.

The Government said the plan includes a mid-point review in 2015, providing a chance to adjust its figures.

“We acknowledge that the numbers could and should change, based on new knowledge, including further science and research, community impact, local involvement and the results of environmental watering programs,” it was stated in the report.

An advisory committee will also be established to determine any changes.

A 20-week consultation period has already started, providing a chance for affected communities to have their say. Sunraysia residents are expected to have their chance early next year.

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