The Northern Review of the basin was completed last year and numerous recommendations and changes were suggested as a result. 

Those variances were on the table for discussion in Leeton on Wednesday when the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) came to town. 

A pop-up shop where residents could speak with MDBA representatives and regional engagement officer Liz Stott, who is based in Leeton, was held at the Roxy Theatre. 

A round table discussion with stakeholders and Leeton Shire Council was also held. 

MDBA chief executive officer Phillip Glyde was wary about the term “review” for the south and was unsure whether one would occur in the same way it did in the north.

“We’re certainly doing the work,” he said. 

“Under the Basin Plan, four years ago there was always planned to be a review in the numbers for the northern part of the basin.

“At the time the plan was set, the quality of information we had for the north was no where near as good as we had for the south. 

“In the south there’s not such a review mechanism. The mechanism is the sustainable diversion limit … which is essentially if you can find smarter ways to achieve good outcomes for the environment using less water than you don’t have to take the water away from irrigators.”

Murrami farmer Debbie Buller attended the MDBA meetings in Griffith and the pop-up in Leeton. 

She was disappointed the basin appeared to be split in two. 

“It needs to be looked at as a whole,” Mrs Buller said.

“The divide just keeps getting bigger and now we have this ‘quadruple bottom line approach’.

It was a triple bottom line. Now it’s the socio, economic, environment and culture … we’re split again there. 

“They (the MDBA) needs to start approaching it (the plan as a whole.”

Mrs Buller was pleased to see the authority in the area, saying it had been a long time since they were last in the MIA.

“I will give them that,” she said.

“It was good to have them here.

“What we need is more action though and less words and talking, but it is good they are listening to us.”

Mrs Stott said there has been a reasonable turnout for the pop up shop in Leeton. 

“There was probably around 20 people from the community there … a mix of farmers and local business owners,” she said. 

“They just wanted to come and reconnect with the authority and get some information about where things were heading with plan and what’s coming up over the next 12 months.”

The event also allowed them to air any grievances they had. 

“It gave them the opportunity to raise any issues they wanted the authority to follow up on,” Mrs Stott said. 

“To be honest, I think there’s a mix of opinion in all communities. There’s people that are positive or negative, informed or not informed. 

“Which is why these pop up shops are so good. They can connect with the authority and get information.”

Mrs Stott works in the role two days at week and welcomes feedback from irrigators and the community to take back to the MDBA.