The committee, established in 2009 designed to ensure communities have a voice during the implementation of the basin plan.
Campaspe Shire mayor Adrian Weston was recently appointed to the committee, replacing Wyuna irrigator Russell Pell after he served nine years as the Goulburn-Broken’s representative.
The committee appoints individuals for three years, with the group putting together seven areas of focus for the coming years.
Cr Weston said he hoped to ensure people were heard.
‘‘My role is basically to carry the voice of our region and provide information about various aspects of the basin plans,’’ he said.
With 16 representatives from across the basin, Mr Weston said there were a number of different points of view in the room but the process was ‘‘very collaborative’’.
‘‘One of the main focuses has been the concerns regarding the socio-economic criteria and the neutrality test, seasonal conditions and the high costs of irrigation, as well as high and prolonged seasonal flows,’’ he said.
The committee’s November meeting outlined its priorities for the next three years.
‘‘Completing the water resource plans to adjust to the basin plan (through the sustainable diversion limit adjustment mechanism, constraints projects and the implementation of the Northern Basin Toolkit measures) were agreed as being immediately important,’’ it said.
‘‘If community groups have concerns or aspects of the plan they’d like to see articulated at meetings, let me know,’’ Cr Weston said.
■ Contact the MDBA Community Committee via email at engagement@mdba.gov.au or phone the community information line on 1800230067.
■ Goulburn-Broken representative Adrian Weston can be contacted directly about issues to be raised with the committee by phone on 0428320464.
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