The 11-page report criticises the Murray Darling Basin Plan’s effectiveness over the past half a decade.

Considering the content suggests governments and the MDBA are severely under-performing in implementing the Plan, the report uninspiringly named, Five actions necessary to deliver the Murray Darling Basin Plan “in full and on time”, is unlikely to help the WGCS make any friends.

That’s not counting the staunch environmental conversationalists, of course.

The report suggests the system needs even more environmental water released, with calls for a one-third increase in water recovery, to 3200 gigalitres of water. 

The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) CEO Steve Whan, says the Wentworth Group’s report on progress of the Basin Plan is unduly pessimistic.

His comments were echoed by irrigators across the MIA, frustrated a group focused on environmental outcomes continues to, “discount the importance of doing more than ‘just adding water’”. 

The Rice Growers Association also had a lot to say, on behalf of Murrumi farmer Debbie Buller.

She agreed there needs to be ‘more common sense’ on improving the health of the river system.

Governments were in the WGCS’ sights too alleging, “less than one per cent of the $13 billion [allocated for the Plan] has been made available to assist communities adapt to a future with less water”. 

The WGSC wants $600 million to be allocated to regional communities to restructure their economies, but direct recipients like Ms Buller aren’t convinced payouts are the answer when the plan would ultimately, “take away (our) major asset”. 

Mr Whan made the point we’re all thinking when it comes to the MDB Plan – stakeholders want to see a healthy river, along with healthy regional communities and an agriculture sector producing the food and fibre Australians need for domestic consumption and export.

But there will be no cohesion towards universally acceptable outcomes, let alone compromise, while groups like the WGCS focus solely on black and white  numbers without considering the Basin’s other interested parties.