The Murray Regional Strategy Group, representing community and farming organisations across the NSW Murray Valley, says recent events indicate there is insufficient collaboration between NSW Government departments, and as a result, the state is suffering.
After building working relationships with Minister Rose Jackson and NSW water departments, MRSG followed up with a suggestion to engage with the Environment Department and its Minister Penny Sharpe, seeking collaboration to get the best outcomes around productive and environmental use of water.
However, it received a three-sentence reply, effectively stating water was not its responsibility.
“That was a very disheartening and disappointing reply,” MRSG executive officer Shelley Scoullar said.
“We have thousands of gigalitres being removed from productive use with the aim of improving environmental outcomes.
“This is not just an issue for a minister and staff in the agriculture or water portfolios; it’s a vital part of the environment portfolio.
“To dismiss requests for collaboration to achieve better outcomes for our state as ‘not our responsibility’ is not good enough.”
In its original letter to Ms Sharpe, sent in early July, MRSG explained how food producers had worked to protect environmental assets (both public and private) while producing staple foods that underpin the social and economic fabric of rural communities.
It explained how local landholders bring invaluable knowledge of the region’s ecosystems, knowledge that is vital to effective and balanced water management for both biodiversity and production.
“We believe this local expertise can be better incorporated into the implementation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, leading to more optimised environmental and community outcomes,” Mrs Scoullar said.
It invited Ms Sharpe to visit the region and see first-hand the challenges being faced and the positive impact of infrastructure-driven and community-led solutions on environmental outcomes, and asked if representatives of her department could be available to attend a NSW Water Group workshop in Deniliquin in August.
“I’m not sure how Ms Sharpe or her department personnel can conclude that a workshop discussing environmental issues does not fall under the responsibility of an Environment Department. That’s quite bizarre,” Mrs Scoullar said.
MRSG wrote again to the minister expressing its disappointment and reinforcing the original invitation.
She replied last week to say “When I next visit the Murray Valley region I am very happy to work with you around a visit or meeting.”
She said she would also encourage her staff to attend an upcoming NSW Water Group meeting, to be held in Deniliquin.
But Mrs Scoullar said the initial response highlighted that there needs to be more focus on due diligence, and working in collaboration to ensure the Basin Plan is implemented cost-effectively and with long-term positive outcomes for the environment, regional communities and sustainability for future generations.
“The Basin Plan is not being implemented in the flexible and adaptive manner we were promised, partly because successive governments at state and federal level are struggling to work on effective solutions to many challenges which exist.
“We need governments at all levels, and their respective departments, acknowledging the issues and working with communities to deliver viable solutions,” Mrs Scoullar said.
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