Makeham rides on water
Kale Makeham, a former resident of Koondrook, is no stranger to performing daring stunts on dirt bikes. Fast forward 11 years and Kale is still pushing the limits on a two-stroke dirt bike, but this time, he's taking the challenge from the dirt to the water!
Calls for citizen scientists to spring into action on conservation efforts: MDBA
Citizen scientists are being called to swap their backyards for a local waterway by joining a wave of volunteers across the Murray–Darling Basin to help with conservation efforts. The spring sampling season of the Great Australian Wildlife Search, delivered by Odonata Foundation, has started.
Leeton Council says no to Murray-Darling Water Amendment Bill 2023
Leeton Shire Mayor Tony Reneker said the Federal Government’s Bill to rewrite the 2012 Murray-Darling Basin Plan endangers the future of businesses and communities in the Murrumbidgee Valley ... Leeton Shire Council, along with Murray Darling Association Region 9 members and key commodity groups in the MIA (such as citrus and rice), urge Murray Darling Association (MDA) members to oppose expanded buybacks and removal of socio-economic protections.
Murray–Darling Basin Authority communique, October 2023
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) met on 11 October in person on Ngunnawal Country (Canberra) ... Having returned from a 4-day listening tour of the lower Murray across South Australia and Victoria, Sir Angus shared reflections from farmers, local governments, First Nations, and communities impacted by the 2022 and 2023 floods who now face the prospect of hot and drying conditions.
When next drought hits … farmers left high and dry
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) says claims by Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek that Basin farmers are thriving under a decade of water buybacks is untrue, and the reality is farmers are fearing the next big dry ... “The truth is her own Department website produces a summary table of all recoveries and it clearly states 12.2GL has been recovered with a further 13.8GL under contract. That's a total of 26GL towards the 450GL, not the 2GL she keeps suggesting”: VFF Water Council chairperson Andrew Leahy.
MDBA seeks blood letting
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) has put its full support behind a proposed legislative change to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan ... The Authority has been the arbiter of truth, with them holding the reins on running the rivers (to the SA border), implementing the plan, reviewing their own work, setting the terms of reference for independent reviews of their own work, managing community concerns and even running defence for the lower lakes.
Release plan adjusted at Menindee Lakes to account for potential rain: MDBA
Senior Director of River Management Joe Davis said the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) had instructed WaterNSW to hold releases from Weir 32 at the current rate of 1,000 megalitres per day while the effects of the forecast rainfall on system flows could be determined. “Managing river flows and storages in the Basin is complex and requires us to work adaptively to account for changing demands and conditions,” Mr Davis said.
MDBA calls on water from Menindee Lakes as Murray demands increase: MDBA
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) will call on water from the Menindee Lakes in the coming week to meet demands in the River Murray system.
Murray–Darling Basin Authority communique, September 2023
Prior to the Authority meeting, members had a very constructive visit to the Upper Murrumbidgee and were briefed on issues affecting the river ... The Authority also met with the First Nations Leadership Group who had travelled from Country to meet in Canberra. There was a constructive discussion on how to establish long-term productive relationships.
New legislation strengthens water management in Queensland: Butcher
The Water Legislation Amendment Bill delivers on a key commitment by the government to strengthen water measurement in Queensland to improve management of the state’s precious water sources ... New arrangements will help Queensland meet its Murray-Darling Basin commitments, including through telemetry and better measurement of overland flows.
Acting on the Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission 2019: Close
The Malinauskas Government releases its response to the Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission 2019 that will guide action on all 44 recommendations, a key election commitment. The response sets out the government’s expectations, policy positions and proposed actions, focusing on four key objectives...
Farmers call out misinformation on Basin Bill: NFF
Farming groups have come together in Canberra to call out the misinformation peddled in Parliament this week regarding the Government’s rewrite of the Murray Darling Basin Plan. National Farmers’ Federation Chief Executive Tony Mahar said the fact the Government felt the need to stretch the truth just revealed how flawed the proposal is.
River Country Bio Link
51 people gathered at Western Murray Land Improvement Group’s Bio Link field day to hear about the evolution in the way big business views farmland ... With carbon targets already set in the Paris Agreement, the next could come via the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which will also factor in biodiversity (nature).
Real cost of water buybacks revealed: NSW Farmers
The Federal Government’s plans to increase water buybacks will have a devastating impact on food production, NSW Farmers warns … “The Minister is talking about removing 450,000ML of water from production, that’s the equivalent of 9.8 billion serves of rice!": Water Taskforce chair Richard Bootle ... “When you simply toss out all previous Basin-wide agreements, our communities will have no choice but to fight back.”
New water legislation will have detrimental effects on Greater Shepparton: Greater Shepparton City Council
A water bill proposed by the Federal Government, which could see buybacks take 450GL of water from local irrigators, will have detrimental effects on the Greater Shepparton region and its horticulture industry … Known for being the food bowl of Australia, Cr Sali said Greater Shepparton would feel the brunt of the Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023...
Victorian farmers slam Basin changes: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has slammed the legislative changes to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan introduced by the Albanese Government in Federal Parliament … “This move tears up the agreement made by Basin states over 10 years ago and is trying to re-write history on what the Basin Plan actually is”: VFF Water Council Chair Andrew Leahy.
Water Bill a recipe for hurt, division and higher food prices: NFF
Farmers are warning that a bill introduced today by Water Minister Tanya Plibersek would obliterate consensus on the Basin Plan and give the Government unchecked power to shut down irrigation farms in Australia’s food bowl. NFF Chief Executive Tony Mahar said the proposal would blow up the Basin Plan and destroy trust and livelihoods in Basin communities.
Environment groups welcome progress on Murray-Darling Basin Plan, but guarantees needed to ensure real water reaches rivers: NCC
In response to a new bill allowing water purchases being introduced to federal parliament, environment groups from across four states have welcomed progress on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, but warn that delays will be costly to the health of our rivers … “While it’s great to see the Basin Plan moving again, it’s important to remember how far behind the Plan is...": Nature Conservation Council of NSW Water Campaigner Mel Gray.
Devastating scale of water buybacks revealed while critical questions go unanswered: NFF
The Federal Government has inadvertently revealed that damaging water buybacks will make up at least a third of water recovery under its revised Murray Darling Basin Plan, at a starting price exceeding $3 billion … “The Minister has said last week the current 1500GL cap on buybacks will be lifted': National Farmers' Federation Water Committee Chair, Malcolm Holm.
Take buybacks off the table – MRSG
A leading community and farming representative group in the NSW Murray is calling on the Albanese Government to "take water buybacks off the table". It comes after Water Minister Tanya Plibersek announced buybacks would be used to recover water, including an additional 450 gigalitres which was not part of original Murray-Darling Basin Plan recovery targets ... MRSG chair, Geoff Moar, described news of the buybacks as a "dagger in the heart" of rural communities, especially after constant government promises that they would only be considered if there were no negative social and economic consequences.
Sailing away
There are many ways for people to escape life’s often mundane activities, some hook the van on and head to warmer climates, others traverse the globe to far flung destinations. These three couples decided to do it in style, sailing down the mighty Murray.
Vic stands strong, NSW crumples under Albo water grab
The Albanese Government has officially declared war on Basin communities and Australian families who are suffering with the cost-of-living crisis. On Tuesday, the Federal Water Minister declared that the Murray-Darling Basin Plan MKII would remove the legislated protections around taxpayer funded water buybacks and the new plan extended to 2027 ... The Murray-Darling Basin Plan clearly demonstrates legislation is only abided by when it’s convenient to the political outcomes sought, and changed when it’s problematic to those ends.
