Water ministers from across the country’s basin states attended the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council session in Mildura on Friday. 

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce was also present to discuss recent progress towards major milestones in the implementation of the Basin Plan.

Ministers agreed to a plan to present to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) that provides credible and balanced possible pathways to implement the Murray–Darling Basin Plan package.

This included supply measures to offset the Basin Plan water recovery target of 2750 gigalitres by 2019 and  efficiency measures to recover an additional 450 GL by 2024.

National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) chief executive officer Steve Whan was cautiously optimistic following the meeting. 

“With some rapidly approaching deadlines, irrigators and Basin communities still have a long way to go before they can feel secure about their futures, but Friday’s meeting does appear to have taken a few positive steps,” he said. 

“NIC urged ministers to focus on outcomes not just water targets and we were pleased to have been able to join with farmers and local government in making that point to ministers. We also strongly emphasised the need for the community impact test associated with the 450GL of so called ‘up water’ to be broadened to consider whole community impacts.”

Meanwhile, the Murray-Darling Association (MDA) was one of three peak bodies to represent local government in Mildura last Thursday, calling for an “enduring seat at the Ministerial Council in an advisory capacity”. MDA national president David Thurley said all levels of government needed to be represented. 

“As the third level of government in Australia, and the one most directly connected to the people, we are uniquely positioned to leverage local knowledge to develop solutions and deliver balanced outcomes,” he said.