The SDLAM projects allow basin plan environmental outcomes to be achieved with less water and involve activities such as installing regulators and other engineering works to get water on to floodplains and wetlands.
A Victorian Government spokesperson said on April 21 the state was working to meet all its Murray-Darling Basin Plan obligations, including restoration of all nine sites, which were collectively known as the Victorian Murray Floodplain Restoration Project.
Five projects associated with the VMFRP are being assessed via the Environmental Effects Statement or Environment Reports process.
According to the VMFRP website this includes for the Belsar-Yungera, Hattah Lakes North, Vinifera, Nyah and Burra Creek projects.
Subject to regulatory approvals and Commonwealth funding, Country News understands construction could start within 12 months.
“Given the funding uncertainty and time constraints the Commonwealth had imposed on the projects, we're now focusing works on the five sites where the regulatory approval process is already under way,” the spokesperson said.
“We are continuing to work with Traditional Owners on their priorities and aspirations for the health of country across all nine sites.”
The website says environmental reports for the other projects — Gunbower National Park and Guttrum-Benwell forest and Lindsay and Wallpolla islands — are “coming soon”.
Victoria has met all of its basin plan commitments to date including 826Gl (88 per cent) of its water recovery target.
At the basin water ministers’ meeting earlier this year Victoria’s Water Minister Harriet Shing asked the Federal Water Minister for a two-year extension to the June 2024 deadline to complete the projects.
“Due to the impacts of bushfires, the pandemic and floods, we have requested a two-year extension of time to ensure our environmental projects can deliver 95 per cent of the required water recovery without harming communities,” Ms Shing said at the time.
Country News understands that with constrains measures (removing or raising infrastructure such as bridges and changes to river operations) the water recovery figure would be 98 per cent.
VFF Water Council chair Andrew Leahy said farmers were concerned the Commonwealth would use any remaining funds to buyback more water.
“We know that buybacks kill rural communities, drives up the price of water, reduces regional jobs and ultimately drives up the price of food and cost of living,” Mr Leahy said.
“The minister is openly walking away from the plan’s SDLAM offset projects that would provide real environmental outcomes and benefits to regional communities with minimal impacts on farmers.
“Mr Albanese and his Water Minister Tanya Plibersek need to understand that delivering them requires financial resources, hard work and time.
“Victoria has been and will continue to provide the hard work. The Commonwealth Government needs to provide the resources and time.”
The basin water ministers are due to meet again next month.
