The group says the prime minister has refused to heed advice from river experts and those with generations of lived experience of river flows, and it is difficult to understand why a government would put towns, farms and public infrastructure under such an unnecessary flood threat.
The draft outlines a framework for how a further 450Gl of environmental water can be recovered. It also details the three key principles the government said would guide the delivery of the plan: enhancing environmental outcomes, minimising socio-economic impacts and achieving value for money.
MRSG chair Geoff Moar said the latest Murray-Darling Basin Plan announcement disheartened the communities his organisation represented, and he believed the water recovery plan was indicative of an out-of-touch government that had a limited understanding of managing water resources effectively.
“Australians will pay a heavy price if we continue down this path,” he said.
“I feel for the numerous communities which are being forced into increased flood risk, especially after what they have endured over the past two years.”
According to the MRSG, locals are frustrated with the government, as some have generations of knowledge and are doing everything they can to use water sustainably but feel like they are being ignored.
“(Federal) Water Minister (Tanya) Plibersek has announced water buybacks from private diverters in the Southern Basin, despite being told numerous times it heightens the risk of catastrophic floods from storing too much environmental water in upstream dams,” he said.
“Across the nation, we are seeing more severe weather events, leading to unprecedented flooding. Yet, quite unbelievably, Ms Plibersek is deliberately increasing this risk in the Southern Basin.”
Consultation on the draft has opened, and Ms Plibersek is asking communities, industries, farmers and First Nations and environmental groups to have their say at consult.dcceew.gov.au/draft-restoring-our-rivers-framework
Ms Plibersek blames the further measures required on the previous Federal Government.
“After a decade of neglect and sabotage by the Liberals and Nationals, the Basin Plan was completely off-track. The previous government let communities down, let industry down, and have failed to protect the environment,” she said.
“For too long, basin communities have been let down. Labor is getting on with the job to deliver the plan in full.”
