Irrigation communities like those in the MIA are “at stake” according to regional champions standing strong to change the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Champions for regional areas are joining forces to protest the desperate times faced by their communities, at a pivotal time in the plan’s implementation.
These champions, including Griffith’s Darren De Bortoli, are calling on others to protest with them this Friday at Melbourne to voice their concerns to state and federal water ministers.
The protest has been organised by the Speak Up campaign. “The whole plan has been based on fraud and lies,” Mr De Bortoli said.
He says now is the time for “common sense,” which he says can only be achieved as a group.
“The 2007 Water Act needs to be re-written,” Mr De Bortoli claims.
“This [rally] is going to be the voice of people, seeing as there has been a lack of empathy from our political representation. We can only do that as a group otherwise we get regions being picked off against other regions. We all need to pull together to get the plan overturned.”
He strongly encourages others to “make a day of it” and come down to Melbourne to join a large force of representatives from the Murrumbidgee, Murray and Goulburn irrigation areas with the possibility of environmental and indigenous groups jumping in as well.
“The people need to get behind the rally and make a weekend of it,” Mr De Bortoli said.
“Support would be much appreciated. At stake is all the irrigation communities of the Murray-Darling Basin.”
It comes as concern mounts about the contents of a report set to help make decisions hugely impacting regional communities.
There are fears the report, prepared by Sefton and Associates following consultation, does not accurately reflect the views of residents on the ground.
The report will be used on December 14 by state and federal water ministers to determine whether more water should be recovered from production.
“We’ve had false modelling and ‘cherry picking’ of comments to suit an agenda. Why would we expect this report to be any different?” Speak Up campaign spokeswoman Vicki Meyer asked.
****
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Receive our free newsletter delivered to your inbox every Monday morning. Sign up here.
