MURRAY-Darling Basin water ministers must “draw a line in the sand” and return water by “proven methods”, says the chief executive of Environment Victoria, after a report noted environmental water recovery by efficiency projects could fall short by over 50 per cent.
Jono La Nauze said it was getting to “extreme levels of urgency” for the environment and all Basin water ministers had to show they would not delay meeting water recovery targets beyond 2024.
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority released its fourth annual SDLAM Assurance Report which estimated a “likely” shortfall of 190 and 315 gigalitres toward the Basin Plan’s recovery target of 605 GL through efficiency projects.
The report noted at least six of the 36 projects would not be operating by the June 30, 2024 deadline.
It also noted the Menindee Lakes project, expected to save about 106 GL per year but now being rescoped, would not support the calculations established in 2017.
Mr La Nauze said “good progress” had been made in recovering about 2100 GL, but science about climate change’s effect on water runoff and availability crystalised how “risky” the situation was and called on decisive action.
“What can be done is (federal Water Minister) Tanya Plibersek, and ideally, all the (Basin) ministers … actually saying we will stick to the rules that we agreed to back in 2012,” he said
“If these projects don’t stack up by 2024, which was the original deal, then the water needs to be recovered from proven methods, which is either on-farm efficiency projects or buying back (water) from willing sellers.”
Murray-Darling Basin Authority chief executive Andrew McConville told the National Press Club on Tuesday irrigation communities had done “heavy lifting” during the 10 years of the Basin Plan, but the environment was still waiting for its share of water.
“The SDLAM projects are like a credit to water users at the expense of the environment,” Mr McConville said.
“The credits have been banked; the payments still need to be delivered.”
He said NSW had the “majority of heavy lifting to do” to progress projects to achieve water targets, while several constraints easing projects required another “five to 10 years” beyond 2024 for completion.
When asked if the MDBA would advise Ms Plibersek of the need for greater water recovery, Mr McConville said it was important to complete what had been “committed to first”.
He said the MDBA did not have a position on water buybacks.
Senate estimates hearings earlier this month noted the Federal Government would buy back 49 GL in water licences from NSW, the ACT and Queensland.
About 1.6 GL of surface water was expected to be bought back from the Barwon-Darling and 10 GL in the NSW Murray.
In October, Ms Plibersek said basin officials had to present a plan in February on how they would meet Basin plan objectives, in a hint the 2024 deadline could change.
