Also known as MinCo, the meeting is an influential round table between the federal, South Australian, Victorian, NSW, ACT and Queensland water ministers.
Murray River Group chair and Swan Hill Mayor Bill Moar said river communities wanted certainty and action — particularly around the 605 Gl of SDLAM projects (sustainable diversion limit adjustment mechanisms).
“We know that SDLAM projects are extremely complex and we also know that to be successful they require real community engagement, which can’t be compromised for the sake of a deadline,” Cr Moar said.
“Our communities are looking for these projects to deliver long-term environmental outcomes without removing more water from farms.”
Cr Moar said the Murray River Group “absolutely welcomed” Federal Water Minister Keith Pitt’s commitment to ending buybacks, but there needed to be action “to back it up”.
“And that means legislating for no further buybacks,” he said.
Without concrete assurances, the Murray River Group said the “threat of buybacks” would continue to hang over their northern Victorian communities.
The group said community trust could only be regained by taking action to deliver, not making more recommendations and commitments.
“The (Murray-Darling) Basin Plan can and must still deliver,” Cr Moar said.
“But it can only do that if all the basin ministers and their departments together with the Murray-Darling Basin Authority start genuinely putting communities at the centre of the conversation.”
The Murray River Group of Councils comprises Mildura Rural City Council, Swan Hill Rural City Council and the Gannawarra, Loddon, Campaspe and Moira shires.
