Report card’s wake-up call
LAST week, Andrew McConville, the chief executive of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, said the New South Wales Government is at high risk of not meeting its responsibilities under the Basin Plan.
His comments followed release of the latest Basin Plan report card, which showed positive results from the huge volumes of water already recovered under the plan, but concerns about lack of progress with the NSW Government water sharing plans.
Coincidentally, the Basin Plan report was released only a week after the NSW Government approved floodplain harvesting licences, to be issued in September.
It’s hard to understand why these licences would be prioritised, considering they are in stark contradiction to the Basin Plan objectives of achieving connectivity.
Quite obviously what has happened, is the NSW Government has focused on ensuring abundant water is provided through floodplain harvesting to irrigators in the Northern Basin, while ignoring the needs of the Southern Basin.
From a NSW Murray regional perspective, the focus on handing out FPH licences, which is effectively taking from the poor and giving to the rich, is hard to fathom, and is at the expense of the economy, environment and people of NSW. Perhaps it has something to do with political persuasion and donations, as there does not seem to be another explanation.
However, it is time the NSW Government changed its focus and recognised the issues and solutions in the Southern Basin. We can help the government deliver on its commitments, but this cannot be achieved until those in power make it a higher priority.
NSW Murray communities, like the MDBA, are frustrated with the lack of progress. The solutions are there we just need investment.
We are hoping this latest report card will be a wake-up call for Premier Perrottet and his Water Minister Kevin Anderson. Community organisations who operate predominantly in a voluntary capacity have been working hard to provide NSW with the opportunity to work collaboratively to resolve these pressing issues.
To this point the government reciprocation has not been forthcoming. We hope that will soon change.
Darcy Hare
Wakool, NSW
