Murray Darling Basin Plan Position Statement
NIC Policy Positions are agreed with Members and prepared in conjunction with our Guiding Policy Principles
1. NIC supports the core of the Basin Plan, to establish enforceable Sustainable Diversion Limits (SDLs), and improve environmental outcomes.
2. NIC expects compliance with the current SDLs*, which are now in-force and independently audited. * current SDLs = SDLAM adjusted (full 605 GL).
3. NIC does not support water recovery beyond existing SDLs. For valleys with water over-recovered beyond the SDL, communities within those valleys should decide what’s done with that water.
4. NIC expects community supported implementation of Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Measures (SDLAM) projects as they are integral to the achievement of environmental outcomes, and to achieving the full 605 GL to avoid further water recovery. SDLAM projects are about optimising environmental outcomes with available water and new options should be continually encouraged towards this objective.
5. NIC is of the position that Basin Plan implementation must do better at addressing the associated socio-economic impacts for Basin communities and recognising the value of water security for Australia’s food and fibre production.
6. Future implementation must focus on moving beyond ’just add water’. Governments must optimise outcomes through being smarter and more strategic with environmental water; investing in complementary measures (such as invasive species control, fish passageways, habitat restoration, fish screening, riparian land management); and a paradigm shift of working together.