Friday, March 29, 2024

FPH regulation tabled

Recent stories

Just two days after the NSW Upper House enquiry into floodplain harvesting, NSW Water Minister, Melinda Pavey, tabled another attempt in parliament to pass floodplain harvesting regulation.

Melinda Pavey MP

The bold move by the NSW National Party was taken despite the ink being barely dry on the consultation that sought to address the end of system flow target for the Darling Baaka, licensing to the legislated legal limit, and to maintain volumes and entitlements within existing SDLs.

The inquiry also called for abolishment of the Healthy Floodplains Review Committee and to establish an independent expert panel to assess and accredit water sharing plan models.

Was this a last-ditch effort by Pavey, who was removed as Minister for Water shortly after?

In a statement, Ms Pavey said, “This afternoon, I received a call from Deputy Premier and Leader of the NSW Nationals, Paul Toole, indicating I will not continue as a minister in the newly formed cabinet.

“While I’m disappointed, I respect the decision made.

“My enormous thanks to all the industry groups who have supported me through the various ministerial portfolios of Roads, Transport, Water and Housing.”

The NSW Irrigators Council praised the move by Pavey.

“Floodplain harvesting only happens when it floods, and rivers are already flowing strongly. It’s a small proportion of water across the landscape but makes all the difference when conditions turn dry as then farmers take less from rivers. MPs just need to hurry up and regulate it.” NSWIC tweeted.

Member for Murray, Helen Dalton, was outraged that community engagement could be so readily ignored.

Helen Dalton
Helen Dalton MP

“Outgoing National Party Water Minister, Melinda Pavey, gave democracy the middle finger as her last act in the portfolio.

“She completely ignored the recommendations of the floodplain harvesting inquiry, and sneakily changed the laws on a Friday afternoon.

“These new laws allow for billions of dollars of floodplain harvesting for a small group of Northern Basin irrigators.

“This will have a big negative impact on irrigators along the Murray River and Lower Darling.

“The Upper House can reverse these law changes when Parliament resumes in February. I’ll be pushing hard for them to do that.”

The NSW National Party will retain the Water Portfolio with Kevin Anderson, Member for Tamworth, promoted to the role. Mr Anderson will have a lot on his plate in the new role, Minister for Lands, Water, Hospitality and Racing.

The regulation put forward by Ms Pavey could, like its predecessors, be disallowed by Parliament’s Legislative Council early in 2022.

The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper 23 December 2021

This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 23 December 2021.

KEEP IN TOUCH

Sign up for updates from Australian Rural & Regional News

Manage your subscription

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.