It says communities in towns like Deniliquin, Rochester, Echuca and Mannum (South Australia) should be “marching on the steps of Parliament House in protest” at what it calls the government’s “deliberate attempt to increase their flood risk”.
MRSG chair Geoff Moar said towns such as Benalla and Seymour on the Goulburn system are also more vulnerable because the Prime Minister and his Water Minister refuse to heed advice from river experts, and those with generations of lived experience of river flows.
MRSG, which represents community and farming groups in the NSW Murray, says it is difficult to understand why a government would put towns, farms and public infrastructure under such unnecessary flood threat.
However, this is the only possible scenario from the draft 450GL water recovery plan, announced last week.
Mr Moar said communities his organisation represents are “shocked and disheartened” by the latest Murray-Darling Basin Plan announcement, adding the water recovery plan highlights a government, responsible minister and bureaucracy that are “out of touch” and showing a limited understanding of how to effectively manage precious water resources.
“Decisions are being made to suit the government’s political agenda, and in the long run Australians will pay a heavy price if we continue down this path.
“I feel for the numerous communities which are being forced into increased flood risk, especially after what they have endured over the past two years,” Mr Moar said.
MRSG last week met with NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson, her advisor and a representative of Premier Chris Minns’ office, and again highlighted the need for the NSW Government to protect the state and its communities from this poor federal government approach.
“We explained the unintended consequences of recovering more water from the Murray system, including the unacceptable elevated flood risk, and asked for stronger representation from the Premier and water minister in opposing harmful buybacks.
“We also encouraged the New South Wales Government to stand firm with Victoria and hold South Australia to account, which will help deliver a better Basin Plan for the entire nation,” Mr Moar said.
He said the approach of the Albanese Government was frustrating, as every effort had been made by people with generations of lived experience along key waterways to provide advice and solutions that would sustain our environment.
But for some incomprehensible reason, these are being ignored by a government that will not listen to anything that may get in the way of its ideology.
“Water Minister Tanya Plibersek has announced water buybacks from private diverters in the Southern Basin, despite being told numerous times this heightens the risk of catastrophic floods from storing too much environmental water in upstream dams.
“Across the nation we are seeing more severe weather events, leading to unprecedented flooding.
“Yet, quite unbelievably, Ms Plibersek is deliberately increasing this risk in the Southern Basin.
“Coming to the end of summer we have Hume Dam at 83 per cent capacity and Dartmouth Dam at 97 per cent.
“It is hard to comprehend how governments and their bureaucracies cannot see the cumulative consequences changing water ownership has had on the Murray system.
“And I have no doubt that despite all the warnings, when the inevitable flooding occurs we won’t find these same politicians and bureaucrats apologising to affected communities. They’ll be silent.”
Mr Moar said over the past two years we have seen towns and communities devastated by more frequent floods.
“If we recover more water from the Murray by targeting private diverters, as proposed, the flood risk will rise; that’s a no-brainer.
“Instead, why can’t we think smarter, rather than through a political lens, and deliver various water-saving projects that support and sustain our environment, food producers and communities?” Mr Moar asked.
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