One of the topics that continues to dominate our committee discussions has been the effect of drought on the water reform efforts currently under way.
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It’s a topic that weighs heavily on our committee members, with some personally touched by the effects of drought and the emotional toll it brings with it.
This highlights to us the importance of leaving no stone unturned when it comes to finding solutions and ways of easing any potential effects of water reform on people already facing hardship, until the full benefits of the reform take effect.
This is things like the benefits of investment and improved flows into the floodplain.
That’s why it’s critical that, while work on the Northern Basin Review continues over the coming year, every effort is made to find ways to reduce socio-economic impacts.
Some of those things will require our governments to step up and make a real commitment to explore all possible options.
This includes looking at things like recovering licences that have less impact on communities, such as those held by graziers in the intersecting streams and Barwon-Darling; recovering specific types of flows; and continuing to invest in on-farm efficiencies and infrastructure.
Just as importantly, state governments need to support the communities most likely to be affected by water reform activities by making wise use of the regional diversification funding to ensure it reaches those who need it most.
The actions and discussion points from our last meeting touch on some of these things being looked at by our committee and can be found in the NBAC newsletter on the MDBA
website: www.mdba.gov.au/about-basin/northern-basin
Our final meeting for the year was also an opportunity to say farewell to outgoing MDBA chairman Craig Knowles. We thank Craig for recognising the differences in the northern basin and setting up the Northern Basin Advisory Committee to advise on the important program of work under way to review the sustainable diversion limits in the north.
His efforts have also meant that more tools are being used to recover water for the environment, rather than just straight buyback. We thank him for this and wish him all the best.
The next meeting of the Northern Basin Advisory Committee will be held in Brewarrina on February 18 and 19.
Mal Peters
Northern Basin Advisory Committee chairman
