NSW Government can’t be trusted on water, says Helen Dalton

MEMBER for Murray Helen Dalton says the NSW Government can “not be trusted”, after a northern Murray-Darlin Basin floodplain harvesting embargo was lifted on Monday.

Lower Darling residents said the decision ruined any chance of flows from recent heavy rainfall reaching towns on the lower Darling, including Menindee.

Mrs Dalton said NSW Water Minister Melinda Pavey had been complaining about Queensland irrigators taking the first flush, however had done almost the exactly same.

“When it comes to water use, we really can’t trust NSW Government as far as we can throw them,” she said.

“I am investigating this impact of the regulation change on downstream communities. I certainly will be questioning Melinda Pavey about it as soon as parliament resumes the last week of February.

“I will not hold back with what questions and what I can do.

“We have had a lot of my constituents very concerned about this.

“It’s just another example of the inadequacy of the plan and the NSW Government to actually consult with the constituents and it also shows a real lack of transparency.

“This is what we have been calling out for for eight years and here we have got this going on again, right under our noses.”

Mrs Dalton said before floodplain harvesting began on any level the Menindee Lakes should well and truly be filling up.

She said after eight years of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan there was still no regulation of floodplain harvesting, which was a “disgrace”.

“It shows how we really do need a royal commission or at the very least the NSW Government should stop blocking Mick Keelty’s inquiry and allow him to properly investigate the state’s water sharing arrangements,” she said.

“(Residents on the lower Darling) would be devastated.

“They had the opportunity to get some water down and it is another grab from the north.

“I just think, where is the common sense and why aren’t we looking after everyone, not just a few?

“Really the crime has been committed to not allow water to your people on every level — for the environment, for people to drink, for people to use, to water their stock.

“It is really cruel.”

Mrs Dalton said there was a petition calling for a royal commission into the Murray-Darling Basin, as well as a national water register.

She said a water-sharing plan in the northern Darling could be introduced, to the benefit of both the north and the south.

The embargo on taking water by floodplain harvesting was to resume on Thursday.