Farmers and water campaigners alike have breathed a sigh of relief this morning when Labor announced it would support the Federal Government in passing a water bill that could prevent 605 extra gigalitres of water being stripped from regional communities.
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The Greens had introduced a disallowance motion to be debated in the Senate on May 8.
The motion refers to set of 37 projects aimed at improving the flow of water for environmental purposes.
In turn, it means farmers and irrigators will not have to forfeit another 605 gigalitres of water. These infrastructure projects are known as SDL (Sustainable Diversion Limit) offset measures.
Leeton Shire Mayor and President of the Murray Darling Association Paul Maytom said he felt things could finally move forward.
"It's (reducing environmental water by 605 gigalitres) an extremely great outcome for the Southern Basin,” he said.
"We would have been in total disarray if the disallowance motion had of gotten up and God help us if the plan was abandoned. Now there can be a feeling of confidence...”
Labor announced the night before the vote it “will not support the disallowance of Basin Plan Amendment SDL Adjustments Instrument for the Murray-Darling Basin Plan or a future disallowance motion on the Northern Basin review”.
Both Federal Member for Farrer Sussan Ley and State Member for Murray Austin Evans confirmed they would encourage NSW to walk away from the Basin Plan had the disallowance motion been successful.
Mr Evans welcomed the bipartisan approach.
”We’re pleased Labor has come out and allowed the 605 gigalitre adjustments to go through. I’m pleased they’ve come out and said they don’t want to see long term planning and rigorous decision-making trumped by politics,” he said.
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”That’s what we’ve been saying all along.”
President of the Coleambally Business Chamber Lynne Stuckings strongly supported the changes.
"It means a lot for our communities and our farming community. It could be the difference between a town surviving and farmers being very productive.”
According to MDBA data released earlier this year, many MIA communities have seen a decline in irrigation water, population and employment.
