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Murray Darling Basin Plan
Furious farmers boycott water webinar
Farmers on the Murrumbidgee River claim they have been kept in the dark about a NSW Government plan to acquire flow easements along the riverfront to accommodate environmental water releases ... The scheme would allow the government to negotiate with landholders to acquire flow easements and, if no agreement can be reached, the water minister can decide to proceed with compulsory acquisition of the flow corridors "on just terms".
Farmers concerned about constraints process
Murray region landholders have increasing fears of government forcibly acquiring their land, and these have been exacerbated by a recently released draft discussion paper, followed by a series of meetings. The NSW Government is suggesting it may use compulsory acquisition of land to claim easements, which will allow higher flow levels of environmental water to be delivered to South Australia under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
Tender time
Senior Riverland politicians have urged local irrigators to avoid signing up for the Federal Government’s latest expression of interest for water buybacks. The Federal Government last week opened the Restoring Our Rivers 2024: Expression of Interest 2 (Large Portfolios of Water Southern Connected Basin), allowing for water buybacks from Riverland communities.
“Perfect Trifecta” for river fish
While punters look to find the best bets on racecourses across the state, the perfect trifecta could be within the banks of three northern Victorian waterways. Water for the environment will flow down the Loddon River, Serpentine Creek, and Pyramid Creek during October, to provide local native fish with a party of their own. Environmental water releases from Laanecoorie Reservoir will begin in early October, targeting flows of 400 megalitres a day.
Still no clear answer or solution on Wilcannia Weir
The Department of Planning and Environment (Water) advised some months ago that there would be an independent review of the original design of the Wilcannia weir. Several names were recommended to the department by the community to form membership of the Independent Review Panel.
Lost water
Sophie Baldwin. Roger Reid thought he was doing the right thing when he made the decision to invest some big dollars into water efficiency projects on his mixed farming property in the Riverina. However, Roger has been left scratching his head and questioning his decision this season, after the Bullatale Creek was reduced to water holes and he couldn’t access water.
Groundwater reserves being examined for irrigation
Sebastian Calderon. An innovative project based in the Riverland is aiming to improve the potential use and benefits of groundwater. Last month, a small reverse-osmosis (RO) plant was installed on Century Orchards, in Loxton, with the objective of identifying different pathways to diversify water sources and relieve resource pressure on the Murray River.
Irrigators warn the Federal Government is on a power grab before the election: National Irrigators’ Council
The Federal Government is again being called out for rushing through risky and untested reforms that seek to gain more power for themselves, prior to the upcoming election. Consultation soon closes on their recent grab, to list two new areas as "endangered" under national environment law, replicating a controversial and subsequently, disallowed move by the former Labor Government in 2013.
Helen’s water victory
Independent Member for Murray, Helen Dalton, says a new Water Register she has convinced the NSW Government to introduce will help stop money laundering as well as the secret purchase of Australian water by foreign governments. She introduced the bill to parliament late last year, with the aim to force NSW politicians to declare their water interests on our conflict-of-interest form.
Say NO to water buybacks
Hay Shire Council is urging residents to support a petition led by local member for Murray, Helen Dalton, which seeks to protect regional and remote communities from the potential impacts of Commonwealth Water Buybacks. The petition which needs 10,000 signatures calls on the NSW Government to ensure that no water transfers occur without a detailed and transparent report into the expected impact of any Commonwealth buybacks.
