She has been co-chair of the lobby group with David McKenzie for a number of years and has pushed the region’s position on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan to state and federal parliamentarians.
Ms Sheed said she was keen to continue with the group, following the loss of her seat last year, if the members were happy to support her.
“It’s something close to my heart, having grown up on an irrigation farm and having been involved with water issues since the 1990s,” she said.
Ms Sheed is also a trustee on the GV Health Foundation and she was excited to see the foundation make a substantial commitment to the development of the mother-baby unit.
A qualified lawyer, Ms Sheed is also considering whether to spend time back in the profession, but at the moment said she was enjoying a break after the hectic Victorian election campaign last year.
The next challenge for her will be at the meeting of federal and state water ministers taking place later this month.
The GMID Water Leadership Group is seeking answers on what Australia’s governments are going to do when time expires on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
The group is worried there will be a last-minute grab for irrigators’ water when the basin’s targets can’t be met by 2024.
Politicians on both sides of the fence seem to agree that the targets can’t be met, but none has produced a plan on what will be done.
Ms Sheed and Mr McKenzie met state Water Minister Harriet Shing and received assurance that Victoria would resist buy-backs to meet the 450Gl of up-water.
The two met Ms Shing in Melbourne on Friday, February 3, at her invitation.
Ms Sheed said they used the meeting to share the concerns of irrigation communities in northern Victoria.
“There is escalating uncertainty as to how the plan can be implemented, given that it is known that there will be a shortfall in water recovery, and the time frames set nearly a decade ago cannot be met,” she said.
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