LABELLED as the "ten point plan" to fix the ongoing water crisis ravaging the MIA, local member Helen Dalton posted a letter outlining possible solutions to NSW Minister for Water, Property and Housing, Melinda Pavey on July 3, 2019.
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Now, nine months after those key priorities were established in writing, a lack of action followed by the COVID-19 pandemic has put national food security at risk and left local producers struggling.
Mrs Dalton has called for action, asking for accountability and change during this time of turmoil.
"All of the wealth in our country comes from the soil," Mrs Dalton said.
"Now if there's nothing to hide, then why don't they all get their heads together and work on this."
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro has called for a crisis meeting with the federal government and other states to release water to irrigators in the nation's southern food bowl.
The urgent call does echo good fortune for farmers, as Mr Barilaro hopes to establish emergency allocations for this growing season.
"The number one threat to the nation's food security is a lack of water, that is the situation our irrigators are facing today in Southern NSW," Mr Barilaro told The Area News.
"The NSW Government is fighting to make sure irrigators have water to grow crops and supermarket shelves are sufficiently stocked.
"This is about keeping our regional communities alive and feeding this nation.
"It is a fight I am not prepared to lose, our nation's food security depends on it."
An emergency allocation was listed as the first step in Helen Dalton's ten point plan, highlighting nine months of negligence as the pandemic crisis triggers a last-ditch effort to overcome the calamity.
"After years of this rot, now you've got complete chaos," Mrs Dalton said.
"It is eroding our communities and it means hardship for all."
Other priorities of note within Mrs Dalton's letter include assigning a regional manager to each valley, a revised Basin Plan and a complete overhaul of the Murray-Darling Agreement.
The crisis meeting penned within the next 30 days may address these solutions, but emergency water allocations will remain as top priority.
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