TONY Burke’s theories around the Murray Darling Basin Plan is continuing to cause outrage in the agriculture industry.
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The NSW Irrigators Council (NSWIC) is urging the Federal Government to rethinks its position on how the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is to be finally implemented – stating the proposed amendments foreshadowed by the Shadow Minister for Environment and Water could wreck any chance of delivering the Plan outcomes.
Minister Burke has threatened to trash the 650,000 megalitres (ML) of Sustainable Diversion Limit offsets in the plan unless a further 450,000 ML of additional water for the environment is purchased from irrigators.
Debbie Buller who is a member of the NSWIC said this is another attempt where Minister Burke is attempting to separate agriculture and the environment.
“In the legislation, it clearly said it have to have a positive or mutual impact,” she said.
“The farmers don’t have that amount of water to sell. It’s the equivalent of almost half the capacity of Burrinjuck Dam.”
Mrs Buller was quick to point out the Minister should be all too aware of the legislation as he was the one in charge when it was signed into effect.
The plan on how to bring about the amount of water they are talking about would have dramatic effects on properties along the river system.
“There idea was they would have to lift a couple of bridges,” she said.
“What they failed to realise is that the council properties such as caravan parks as well as private property would be wiped out.
“It is completely unrealistic.”
If the proposals were to get through, which Mrs Buller doesn’t feel it will, there would be problems all over the area.
“There would be a riot,” she said.
“It is not acceptable. The 450 GL was shoehorned in to get the SA Government on side.
“No one is impressed by his (Minister Burke) grandstanding.”
NSWIC CEO, Mark McKenzie said the economic shortfall of the plan would only exemplify should the amendments be adopted.
“There has already been significant economic damage to regional communities in the Basin,” he said.
“NSWIC believes more water cannot be recovered without causing even deeper damage to regional economies.”
Mr McKenzie said that NSWIC fully supported the NSW Water Minister, Niall Blair, who has responded to Mr Burke’s statements – indicating that NSW would review its support for the Plan if the proposed amendments were to proceed.