The Murrumbidgee, Balranald, Carrathool, Hay and Leeton communities have also been listed as vulnerable in the Aither report on ‘Water Purchasing Programs’, along with the region’s rice, dairy and bulk wine industries.
The findings in the report has prompted the Riverina and Murray Joint Organisation of Councils (RAMJO) to call for “meaningful engagement and partnership” in developing alternatives to water buybacks.
This process started with a recent meeting with NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson in Sydney.
It allowed RAMJO representatives to express the “deep-held concerns about the potential impacts of further water buybacks on communities across the RAMJO footprint” following the enactment of the Commonwealth’s Restoring Our Rivers legislation.
RAMJO chairman and Federation Council Mayor Patrick Bourke said the minister gave RAMJO a good hearing and shares its concerns about buybacks.
“We thanked Minister Jackson for the New South Wales Government’s promise to promote ‘Alternatives to Buybacks’ as espoused in their recently released document and asked her to advocate the same to the Federal Government where there are signals that buybacks for the 450 gigalitres of down water could be on the table as early as 2024.
“It is imperative that all other avenues for achieving environmental outcomes are explored and exhausted first, before any buybacks are ever considered.
RAMJO water sub-committee chair and Leeton Mayor Tony Reneker said the group made it clear to the minister that RAMJO was prepared to work with all tiers of government to co-design solutions for achieving identified environmental priorities in the Basin Plan where these are practicable and reasonable.
He welcomed the minister’s agreeance that the initial focus should be infrastructure projects and improved environmental management such as dealing with the carp issue, cold water pollution and fish passages.
“RAMJO is strongly against buybacks for the sake of chasing an arbitrary water recovery target. We go as far as saying that pursuing water buybacks ahead of other options is reckless government,” Mr Reneker said.
“RAMJO councils will do everything we can to ensure our communities and local economies, many which have taken several decades to develop, are not unnecessarily pushed to a tipping point by the stroke of a political pen.
“RAMJO also raised concerns with the minister that buybacks will significantly distort the water market.”
Murrumbidgee Mayor Ruth McRae, who went to Sydney as part of the delegation, stressed how important it is for federal and state governments to engage with local councils that will be impacted by water policy as full and respected partners.
She called for that engagement to be early and authentic.
“It is essential that decision makers seek the ideas and knowledge of local councils and local communities before imposing any actions,” she said.
“To do this genuinely there must be full transparency, no secrets, no surprises and adequate time allowed.
“Our communities deserve clarity.
“We were pleased that Minister Jackson undertook to engage with us where she and her department have a role and said she would encourage her government colleagues to take this approach too.”
RAMJO intends to remain in close contact with Minister Jackson and her office as the Federal Government’s plans for Restoring our Rivers unfolds.
Cr Reneker highlighted that the RAMJO region is the food bowl of NSW with prowess in primary production and value adding, including for export.
“We look forward to our State Government standing by RAMJO councils and actively supporting our communities as we seek to ensure our $10 billion RAMJO economy and thousands of rural jobs are not crippled by poorly executed Federal Government legislation.
“RAMJO is committed to a healthy natural environment and will cooperate in every way, but we are equally committed to healthy communities underpinned by healthy local economies.
“We expect our state and federal governments to be the same, committing to and working together to deliver a successful triple bottom line.”
