THE Murray-Darling Basin Authority communique from the meeting of basin water ministers last week stated NSW, Victoria and SA would work together to assess the cumulative impacts of new and increased extractions and developments.
This is a win and it is something I and Mildura Rural City Council have long been advocating. I will add that local councils should have more buy-in to development decisions where our economies and environment are directly impacted by the ability to get enough water to our region, particularly in times of severe drought.
Overdevelopment and overallocation have made this a difficult task.
I note the communique mentions a feasibility study into deliverability issues and I will be doing all I can to ensure local concerns are addressed to help inform the outcome and state our case.
I would also like our federal member and water ministers to reconsider the 70-gigalitre revision of so-called upwater to be returned to the environment under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, making the point that since parliament voted to revise down the amount of water to be recovered to the environment in the northern basin in early 2018, the Darling River had been described as an ecosystem in crisis, complete with multiple mass fish kills. Noting Victoria’s share of water in the Menindee Lakes, which affects Victorian water allocations along the Murray.
It is great to see a new native fish recovery strategy has been endorsed and it will be my aim to continue working to attract resources for jobs, scientific data and native fish monitoring and compliance. Acknowledging the reduction in native fish species due to the fish kills and the work needed to bring water volume and native fish populations back to sustainable levels.
I would also like to acknowledge Anne Webster and the National Party for calling for a moratorium on new plantings. This action proves that public pressure and decisions made on evidence-based policy, not politics, is the only way to bring health back to our stressed waterways.
Jason Modica is a Mildura councillor
