If the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is to be successfully implemented, it is imperative that action is taken to improve the health of the Darling/Baaka River, says the Murray Regional Strategy Group.
The group says the environmental issues which have occurred in the Darling system cannot be rectified by storing water in upstream Southern Basin dams.
MRSG, which represents numerous farming and community groups in the NSW Murray region, has welcomed a renewed approach to the problems in the northern basin from the NSW Government.
The government appointed a panel of experts that has presented its Connectivity Expert Panel Interim Report, which lists a series of flow targets for each river in ‘non-dry times’, under which there would be restrictions on floodplain harvesting.
MRSG chair Geoff Moar acknowledged that floodplain harvesting was a difficult discussion, however it was an issue that had to be addressed.
“Communities in southern NSW and northern Victoria have been doing the heavy lifting under the basin plan, contributing more than 80 per cent of the water recovered so far.
“Yet recovering water from the southern basin and storing it in our upstream dams will not solve Darling River problems.
“The reality is, it’s the Darling River system that has the most frequent fish kills and general environmental issues, and this can only be rectified by recovering water from within the Darling River catchment.
“We must develop a fair and equitable system where the northern basin is able to contribute a reasonable share of river connectivity flows and also contribute to any additional environmental flows to Menindee Lakes and the Murray River.
“This can only occur if floodplain harvesting is addressed.”
Mr Moar said in the NSW Murray region, long-established water sharing rules have been in place to protect the environment. Under these rules farmers are the last to be allocated water, especially in dry periods.
“Somehow, we have to move away from the basin plan’s current ‘just add water’ approach to achieving new environmental targets.
“As a priority we need well-researched and politically independent science to review end of system river connectivity targets.
“We have also long been advocating for full implementation and enforcement of compliance and metering throughout the basin before any more water is recovered.
“Establishing flow targets to Menindee Lakes is an essential part of the water sharing plans, including for Indigenous communities who rely on the Darling system.
“It is also important for southern NSW and northern Victorian communities, who have water allocations severely impacted when flows do not reach Menindee, at massive cost in lost production.
“We understand that floodplain harvesting has been a difficult political issue for many years, however we believe the time has come when it must be addressed, for the benefit of the entire basin.”