FEDERAL Water Minister Tanya Plibersek says she doesn’t prefer water buybacks to infrastructure to meet the Murray-Darling Basin Plan targets.
“One of the things that Restoring our Rivers does is give an additional two years for infrastructure projects to be delivered which will save water and reduce the need for buybacks,” she recently told the ABC’s 7.30 program.
“We’ve also said to the states and territories that if they’ve got additional projects they want to bring forward, we are happy to consider them. What I am saying … yes, we will support water-saving and water-efficiency projects. We will support off-farm efficiency projects.”
Ms Plibersek said the Bill provided more time to deliver on the plan “as it is now”.
“More money to make sure that we’ve got money for additional projects that are water savings projects, more money for structural adjustment should it be necessary.
“We’re also delivering more accountability to make sure that the plan is actually delivered and, of course, more options.
“We want to do on-farm efficiency measures, off-farm efficiency measures, land and water purchases. All options are on the table.
“What’s not optional is delivering the plan.”
