Griffith irrigators are holding their breath over the fate of 450 gigalitres of Murray Darling Basin water which will be debated at a meeting of water ministers this Friday.
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The Ministerial Council (MinCO) meeting of federal and state water ministers from NSW, Victoria, ACT, and South Australia will see the ministers negotiate on whether 450 gigalitres of productive-use water should be recovered.
Supporters of upwater recovery believe that returning extra water will help achieve the Basin Plan’s objective of improved environmental preservation.
A group of irrigators from the Murrumbidgee, Murray and Goulburn areas will converge on Melbourne on Friday as part of the Speak Up Campaign to protest the recovery of the 450 gigalitres.
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This week, NSW Member for Murray Austin Evans and federal Member for Farrer Susan Ley said they were both opposed to the 450 gigalitres recovery given the threat it poses to irrigators and agriculture.
Both Mr Evans and Ms Ley said they had written to the state and federal water ministers Niall Blair and David Littleproud asking them to argue against the recovery at Friday’s MinCO Meeting.
State water Minister Niall Blair said he will support the recovery if further conditions can be put in place to protect farmers and farming towns.
“If a deal can be reached, we would finally see certainty and the parameters of the Plan firmly entrenched, I’ve said from day one that the Basin Plan can and will be implemented, but not at all costs,” Mr Blair said.
“We will negotiate with the Commonwealth and other states to ensure efficiency projects that contribute to the 450 gigalitres upwater, undergo rigorous assessment and do not penalise regional communities.
“The NSW Government will also seek funding to allow NSW to progress consultation on and assessment of Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism Projects.”
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party candidate Helen Dalton said NSW and Victoria should “withdraw from this unworkable plan.”
“The 450 gigalitres of upwater will, regardless of recovery methods, impact irrigation communities, every drop that leaves our communities leads to loss of services, jobs and ultimately to hardship for us.”
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