There is ongoing disbelief at the manner in which water policy is being approached, with ideology and city-based votes appearing to take precedence over common sense and the national good.
Murray Regional Strategy Group executive officer Shelley Scoullar said recent events and announcements continue to ring alarm bells, with an apparent failure of the Federal Government to understand the importance of food security, nor the role played by effective water management in growing sufficient food to support domestic requirements.
“Our food imports are increasing and so is the cost of fresh, Aussie grown food at our supermarkets,” Mrs Scoullar said.
“It appears our city-based politicians cannot grasp the connection between these unnecessary scenarios and the dwindling availability of water for production.
“Nor can they seem to comprehend the physics of water delivery.
“Even environmental water holders, as well as water managers, are trying to explain that it is not possible to pour massive quantities down the system without drastic unintended consequences.
“Yet these warnings, like everything else which screams that we need a change of direction with water policy, falls on deaf ears.”
Mrs Scoullar said regional communities are hoping next year’s Basin Plan Review will highlight some of the plan’s flaws and the need for a fresh approach, but there is limited confidence within the community this will be the case.
Instead, the concern is that communities in the NSW Murray Valley will continue to be the target of water acquisition, because although this is not the best approach, it is the easiest.
The other issue of concern is around the Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism, which the Murray Darling Basin Authority has recently predicted will have a significant shortfall, with some projects not completed by next year’s deadline.
“These projects are designed to improve water efficiency and therefore provide positive environmental outcomes without the need for more buybacks,” Mrs Scoullar said.
“But again, we fear governments will revert to buybacks to make up any SDLAM shortfall because it’s an easier option.
“Instead, we need a flexible and adaptive approach, so new projects can be developed as new information and data becomes available.
“Our communities are fed up with being the political scapegoat; it seems those in Canberra who are least impacted by the Basin Plan have no issue with making our region collateral damage for their poor policy.”
Mrs Scoullar said MRSG again calls for open and transparent discussions on ways to improve the Basin Plan so it protects both the environment and communities within the Basin.
“From the very start of the Basin Plan process we were promised a balanced, adaptive and flexible plan.
“Unfortunately, that is not what we have seen thus far, but it is never too late to change.”
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