NSW Farmers Conservation and Resource Management committee chair Bronwyn Petrie said the Association had been calling for an inquiry into the concerns of members, particularly the efficacy of the plan and its impact on regional communities.
‘‘New South Wales Farmers is pleased to see the Commonwealth Government listening to the concerns of regional communities across the Murray Darling Basin and conducting an inquiry into the impact of the plan on Basin communities,’’ Ms Petrie said.
‘‘At our recent executive council meeting, New South Wales Farmers called for a review of the Plan’s implementation. We also called for a re-examination of the Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism (SDLAM) projects to ensure their ability to deliver against the plan’s objectives and, where necessary, consider including new projects to deliver actual efficiencies to provide more water for the environment and for agriculture.’’
Ms Petrie said members remain concerned with the plan’s ability to deliver against its stated objectives.
‘‘With inflows into the system now at the lowest on record in many river valleys as a result of one of the worst droughts seen since European settlement, the one thing needed to provide more water for the environment is rain to break the drought and begin filling storages again.
‘‘The inquiry itself, though, must be matched by a commitment to act on the concerns of regional communities. Given the pending election, both sides of politics must agree to address concerns of Basin communities and, where necessary, uphold important aspects of the plan such as the legislated cap on buybacks and on maintaining the triple-bottom line aspects of the 450 gigalitre up-water targets.’’
Ms Petrie said the government should include a representative from southern New South Wales to be part of the process, as part of its five-member panel.
‘‘Irrigators in the Murray region of New South Wales have, to date, been required to do so much of the heavy lifting to deliver the plan’s objectives. These communities should be amongst the first visited by the panel.’’
