On Friday, state and federal water ministers met in Melbourne and hailed their agreement as ‘historic’ as around 300 people from irrigation areas protested the meeting outside.

NSW Water Minister Niall Blair said a robust socio-economic test for upwater projects had been agreed to.

“Not a drop of water will go to the upwater (tally) unless there’s a neutral or positive economic impact,” Mr Blair said.

“If the test shows its going to be negative, it can’t go ahead.

Mr Blair said the test would look at the impact on jobs, the price of water and the broader regional impact.

Instead of looking at water licence holders to recover water, focus will be on efficiency projects including lining irrigation channels, reducing water leaks in Basin cities and installing meters.

“I commit to our regional communities today that the goal posts won’t move anymore and you can now decide if you want to ‘take a kick’ at them and invest in the opportunities afforded by certainty,” Mr Blair said.

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party candidate Helen Dalton, who was in Melbourne to protest, called on South Australia to do some of the heavy lifting.

“Their insatiable thirst for water is creating incredible hardship,” Mrs Dalton said.

“People in our region are incredibly tolerant, and we try and save every single drop of water and they want more?” she asked.

She remained worried about the “unintended consequences” which could arise from this new agreement between states.

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NSW also secured funding for consultation work on sustainable diversion limit projects like Yanco Creek and a called on the federal government to move Murray Darling Basin Authority jobs into the regions.

“We want to see the MDBA move staff out of Canberra, to see staff moved into the area affected by the plan,” Mr Blair said.

Mr Blair said he would be advocating to see the Riverina become of the areas which could host MDBA staff in the future.

Griffith mayor John Dal Broi welcomed the focus on efficiency projects instead of recovering more water from productive use and described it as “one win for common sense”.

“It’s pleasing to see the SA minister has been some sense and the savings will come from infrastructure upgrades,” Councillor Dal Broi said.

“We’ve saved in excess of 1000 gigalitres which can be used for the purpose this water was originally designed for.

“Less evaporation and better water efficiency in delivering water is good for irrigation communities, and good for people who derive an income from irrigation.”

He said the alternative would only mean more water is taken from Murrumbidgee and Murray irrigation areas.

“At least there is some degree of certainty that productive water will not have to be surrendered,” he said.

Cr Dal Broi also welcomed that MDBA staff could be moved out of Canberra.

“People can see the outcomes of their decisions, be it at Deniliquin, or Euchuca on the Murray, they can see drought or they can see the full rive flowing past,” he said.

“If they’re out here we can make them understand, they’ve got to be part of the result of their decisions.”

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