Constraints Management Position Statement
NIC Policy Positions are agreed with Members and prepared in conjunction with our Guiding Policy Principles.
1. NIC supports the Constraints Roadmap in-principle, noting the initial timeframes were unrealistic. More time and ongoing funding is needed to define a package of community supported projects* to improve the utilisation of environmental water and maximise the benefits of water recovered from the Murray Darling Basin Plan. These benefits cannot be achieved through more water.
2. NIC recognises constraints projects will have impacts on individuals and communities which must be minimised, mitigated and compensated with their consent.
3. Noting NIC’s position that all projects must be community-supported, impacted landholders and communities must have access to sufficient, timely information about increased flow events, to make informed decisions and mitigate impacts.
4. NICs support for the Constraints Roadmap is contingent on maintaining the full 605 GL offset for SDLAM. This means there must be no reductions to SDLs prior to project delivery, which will require aligning the SDLAM Reconciliation Framework to the new timeframes of the Constraints Roadmap.
5. Constraints project implementation is the responsibility of Basin Governments. Communities should not be burdened with water recovery because of Government’s failure to implement.
* Note: The Constraints Roadmap outlines a clear policy intention to deliver flows up to a maximum of minor overbank flow levels for short durations, to deliver environmental water. This commitment must be strictly adhered to, in respect of those impacted.