Greater Shepparton City Council, Media Release, 13 November 2025

Greater Shepparton City Council is deeply concerned regarding yesterday’s announcement by the Federal Government to expand water buybacks under the updated Restoring Our Rivers Framework.

This decision risks significant impacts on agriculture, horticulture, and the broader regional economy.

Mayor, Councillor Shane Sali, said the additional buybacks from the Southern Connected Murray Darling Basin could have further serious consequences for local farmers and communities.

“The decision to increase voluntary water purchases by an additional 130 GL, on top of the 1400 GL that has already been purchased so far from the Murray Darling Basin, poses a serious threat to the future of agriculture, horticulture, and food security across the entire region,” he said.

“Greater Shepparton is the food bowl of Australia. Every litre of water removed from productive use means fewer crops, less milk, and reduced output from our orchards and processing plants. This is not just about farmers, it’s about jobs, local businesses, and the affordability of food for families across the country.

“Water is the backbone of this community; it drives our economy on both a domestic and export level. These measures must not come at the expense of livelihoods. The flow-on effects from further buybacks would be devastating for regional and rural communities.”

Deputy Mayor and Pine Lodge Ward Councillor, Cr Geoff Akers, said the decision will have significant impacts on the region and drive up the price of food.

“Buying water for the environment shrinks the total amount of water available to agriculture, this drives up the price of water and costs to farmers that then have to be passed onto the consumer,” he said.

“This decision risks leaving supermarket shelves filled with imported fruit, vegetables, and dairy instead of safe, locally produced food. That is not the future we want for our community or our country.”

Council is calling on the Federal Government to pause water buybacks until socio-economic impacts on industries and communities are truly understood, and to work with local farmers, growers, processors, and regional communities to achieve environmental outcomes without sacrificing the viability of Australia’s food-producing regions.