While the MDBA says the findings present evidence that “the rivers, wetlands and lakes are in far better shape under the Basin Plan”, Southern Riverina Irrigators says there are some “glaring oversights and poor statements”.
SRI chair Peter McDonald said MDBA statements like “most of the changes in economic conditions in the Basin are due to factors other than water recovery” and “Basin Plan water reforms have had relatively minor impacts on regional economies” and modelling suggests “are largely determined by other influences” were dangerous and misleading, especially for us here in the Riverina.
“SRI has sat on the MDBA’s community forum for many years,” Mr McDonald said.
“At a recent meeting in May we were given an insight into what this report contained, and SRI was certainly not alone in our condemnation of the evaluation in its current form.
“We flagged quite a few concerns, including socialising impacts across a broader demographic and the use of economic data based on a gross dollar value rather than actual productivity data.
“We asked for our issues and concerns to be clearly outlined in the evaluation, and it certainly hides a lot of the key impacts when you gloss over the facts.”
Mr McDonald said it is no secret the wealth and health of our rural towns and communities is underpinned by access to affordable irrigation, and said to argue otherwise is “ridiculous”.
Commodities like rice, dairy, beef, lamb and cereals are all directly related to access to affordable irrigation water
“SunRice stated back in October 2024 investing in the Deniliquin Mill becomes too hard and a further 450GL of buybacks will likely push the company offshore - SunRice generates around $400 million annually and employs 400 people in the region.
“At its peak, the Murray Dairy region produced around 3.1 billion litres. That figure has nearly halved to 1.8 billion litres and for every million dollars generated by dairy, six full-time jobs are created.
“We would argue water recovery under the Basin Plan has had a major negative impact on our region and will continue to do so, as competition for productive water increases as more water leaves the footprint - it’s a simple case of supply and demand.”
MDBA chief executive Andrew McConville said that while implementation is not complete, the Evaluation “provides strong evidence that the sustained commitment of Basin communities, industry and governments to implement the Basin Plan is working”.
But he also acknowledged there has been direct impacts for irrigation communities.
“We have drawn on more than 30 lines of evidence, including extensive environmental monitoring, lived experience, social and economic studies and technical information,” he said.
“Reflecting on the past 13 years, it’s important we acknowledge the challenges of Basin Plan implementation for industries and communities. This reform has not been easy.
“At a basin scale there have been substantial benefits, but it is also the case that for some irrigation dependent communities this reform has been tough with direct impacts.
“Collaborative efforts to manage environmental watering are getting results – keeping rivers in the north and south connected, restoring low-lying floodplain vegetation and helping water birds to breed in places like Hattah and Narran Lakes. In dry years, water for the environment was the only water sustaining flows through the Murray mouth.
“Where we can deliver water, we are seeing results, and where we plan and deliver environmental water in collaboration with First Nations people, we are starting to see co-benefits that go beyond the environmental outcomes.
“These results also recognise the innovation of Australia’s industries, which have adapted on-farm and irrigation practices, become more efficient water users and still grown the economic value and contribution to gross domestic product from $23.6 billion in 2008 to $35.1 billion in 2021.”
Mr McConville said as well as highlighting what’s working, the evaluation highlights some limitations of the plan, where “work to deliver water savings projects and maximise the use of environmental water through constraints relaxation has proven challenging”.
“It’s clear from the results that the Basin Plan is working, but there is more to be done. What we do next will determine the long-term health of the basin.
“The insights in the evaluation are critical to shaping future reform and will be the focus of our discussions with communities, First Nations, industry and governments as we progress the Basin Plan Review.”
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