NATIONAL IRRIGATORS’ COUNCIL
Advocating for the Australian irrigated agriculture industry
The Murray Darling Basin Plan became Commonwealth legislation in 2012. It was enabled under the Water Act 2007. The plan outlines the management of water resources in the Murray-Darling Basin, including water allocation, environmental water management, and water quality standards.
The Murray Darling Basin Plan has been amended twice since becoming law:
The National Irrigators Council is committed to finalising the Murray Darling Basin Plan without unnecessarily burdening our
industries and communities. The remaining elements of the Murray Darling Basin Plan are shared responsibility of the Australian
Government with Basin jurisdictions. We endeavour to monitor their progress to keep them accountable to their promises to achieve the
Murray Darling Basin Plan and its outcomes while not leaving any community behind.
Water recovery towards the Murray Darling Basin Plan Sustainable Diversion Limits and compliance with those limits, is monitored by the Murray Darling Basin Authority.
As reported in the August Sustainable Diversion Limit Water Take Report the Basin Plan Sustainable Diversion Limits are being achieved with all water resource plan units compliant.
Updated progress of water recovery is summarised below.
KEY MESSAGES
The announcement of $160 million for Southern NSW communities targeted by Government water buybacks for an additional 450 GL, is welcomed by the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) but they warn, it will not make up for the damage. “Removing water from agriculture has enormous flow-on impacts throughout communities, which cannot simply be patched up with one-off handouts,” said NIC CEO, Zara Lowien. [...]
Check out our final submission into the Inspector General of Water Compliance Inquiry into the Northern Basin Toolkit.
The Toolkit was a multi-pronged solution developed through the Northern Basin Review to recommit government to existing requirements
(Bridging the Gap requirements), fund a series of investments over-and-above the Murray Darling Basin Plan assumptions and existing levers of just adding water, enhance environmental outcomes and minimise socio-economic impacts. The Toolkit was the Government's initial
investment into complementary measures.
As with many of the Murray Darling Basin Plan elements, it has lacked transparency and accountability, which should be improved in future
program development. The Toolkit highlights a number of great outcomes when investment is provided to optimising environmental water delivery and environmental outcomes.
Take a look at our final submission on both the:
Find out more about our community, and join our mission advocating for the Australian irrigated
agriculture industry.