TAMWORTH Regional Council (TRC) won’t be having any input in the royal commission into Murray-Darling water theft, despite receiving a formal invite from the South Australian government.
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Councillors voted against making a submission to the inquiry with concerns SA-based inquiry wouldn’t hold much sway in NSW or on the federal Murray-Darling Basin Authority.
“Whilst council is a stakeholder in the Murray-Darling Basin and has an interest in the contents, implementation and amendments to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, it has no formal role,” a TRC report said.
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“The other issues listed in the terms of reference, whilst of interest to council, are not areas where council or staff have the necessary thorough knowledge to be able to prepare a submission on these matters.”
Councillor Mark Rodda suggested it could be an opportunity to register disappointment with the prices bulk water users in Peel valley continue to pay.
“At the very least, we’re entitled to be angry at the cost of water that has left our our catchment and moved on the other areas,” Cr Rodda said.
“I hope the royal commission gets to the bottom of the issues that are plaguing the Murray-Darling.”
TRC water and waste director Bruce Logan doubted there would much to be achieved for NSW, and specifically the region, in the inquiry.
“The price of water is set by NSW,” Mr Logan said.
“Appealing to to royal commission in SA, I don’t think it’s going to do us much good.
“SA doesn’t have any power to change anything in NSW, Queensland or the MDBA, which is a federally constituted authority.”
The SA government launched the inquiry to investigate “widespread claims of water theft by upstream states”. “This scandal is so extensive, we need a rigorous, independent inquiry with the coercive powers of a royal commission,” Premier Jay Weatherill said.