The call comes from the Murray Regional Strategy Group, and follows concerns the environment movement is turning a blind eye to damage being caused by renewable projects.
MRSG chair Geoff Moar said ignoring this environmental damage for the sake of political correctness was unacceptable.
His comments follow concerns the environment is being sacrificed, while groups with a charter to protect it are not speaking out for fear of being categorised as ‘climate deniers’.
Mr Moar said a similar attitude is plaguing our river systems, which are suffering environmental damage yet nothing is being done to address it.
“We have a $13 billion Murray-Darling Basin Plan that is spending a massive taxpayer investment with a promise to deliver a plan that protects the environment, as well as the social and economic fabric of communities in the basin,” Mr Moar said.
“But the plan is premised on a flawed ‘just add water’ philosophy, and as a result we are seeing unnecessary environmental damage, in particular along our iconic Murray River and its tributaries.
“Instead of investigating this damage and calling for improved water management to protect our waterways, environment groups do nothing but call for more water recovery, even though this is only going to exacerbate the problem.
“It seems these groups are more interested in promoting their ideologies than advocating for the reforms that are needed to protect our environments.”
Mr Moar believes legislated flow targets under the Basin Plan are politically motivated, and designed to shore up environmental votes in South Australia, and in city-based marginal seats.
“It is incomprehensible that we have seen ongoing damage to the Murray River from excessive flows, yet environmental advocacy groups are not prepared to call this out.
“Perhaps this is due to similar concerns expressed over their stance on renewables – that they do not want to be aligned with policies of conservative political parties.
“They’re happy to see river banks being eroded away, not prepared to demand action to control European carp explosion, and turn a blind eye to flood damage which could be mitigated with better water management.
“Rural Australians would like to see environmental groups making more effort to be sufficiently educated, and therefore able to more effectively advocate for policy that protects our environment, instead of the current policy settings which appear designed to save the seats and careers of our politicians.
“We want to work with all governments and advocacy groups to protect our environment and deliver the balanced Basin Plan that we were promised, but is not being delivered.”
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