Murray River Group of Councils, Media Release, 11 July 2023
The Murray River Group of Councils, which comprises of six councils located in northern Victoria, has welcomed Federal Minister for Water and Environment, Tanya Plibersek’s request to extend the timeframes to deliver the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
Minister Plibersek has written to Murray-Darling Basin Authority Chair, Angus Huston, requesting an honest assessment of whether the plan can be delivered by the mid-2024 deadline.
“The bulk of the impact of the Murray Darling Basin Plan has been borne by our communities across northern Victoria. We welcome the Ministers call to delay the implementation of the Murray Darling Basin Plan, so our communities can be heard and listened to”, Murray River Group of Councils Chair, Cr Rob Amos said.
“The impact of the Murray Darling Basin Plan has been significant for many who live in our part of northern Victoria. For many years we have been requesting the Federal Government to listen and understand the negative impacts that water recovery has had on our communities and that further water recovery would have on them.
“Our communities are concerned at the prospect of more buy backs, particularly as they seem to be aimed at recovering significant further volumes from the irrigation districts that support our region.
“The cost of living is rising – especially for fresh food. Our region produces vast quantities of fresh food. Agriculture and food manufacturing drive our regional economy; together they are responsible for 15,800 jobs and $6.5 billion in output. Around half of all agricultural businesses in our region use irrigation.
“Significant progress has been made in the delivery of the Murray Darling Basin Plan and Victoria in particular has delivered the majority of its obligations.
The Murray River Group of Council’s welcomes this request and will support responsible delivery of the plan’s current projects which are a compromise for both environmental outcomes and food production in our region.
“However the Murray River Group of Councils do not support any further buybacks from northern Victoria. Enough is enough,” Cr Amos said.
Background
The Murray River Group of Councils (MRGC) comprises six councils in northern Victoria, Mildura and Swan Hill Rural City Councils and Loddon, Gannawarra, Campaspe and Moira Shires.
Water is the lifeblood of our communities.
Agriculture and food manufacturing drive our northern Victorian economy. Agricultural commodities in the MRGC region have combined a value in excess of $4 billion. Together, the agriculture and food manufacturing sectors account for, a third of all economic output, 43 per cent of all local expenditure and one in four jobs in our region. Around half of all farm businesses in our region rely on irrigation.
The rivers, floodplains, lakes and wetlands of northern Victoria have enormous environmental value and are fundamental to our regional identity. Our region is home to four Ramsar wetlands: Hattah-Kulkyne, Kerang Wetlands, Gunbower and Barmah.
Our communities depend on a healthy Murray River system for drinking water and for recreation. Our tourism industry relies in large part on a healthy Murray River system as the single main attraction for the region.
All these depend on the careful management of the Murray Darling Basin water resources in partnership with Basin communities.
