With submissions on the Northern Basin Review closing tomorrow, the farming community’s clear message to both the Murray Darling Basin Authority and the Federal Government is that enough is enough. It is encouraging to see the farmers coming together on this.
The decisions made by governments have a particularly enormous impact on our sector. Water reliant crops and businesses, and irrigation-dependent rural communities are highly vulnerable to these decisions.
While much devastation is being felt across the Basin now, one positive is that the authority recognised deficient data for Northern Basin targets, and has subsequently reviewed those targets. We are encouraged with the draft recommendation to reduce what was a draft target from 390 gigalitres to 320GL. However, a 320GL target for the North is still projected to impact to the tune of more than 500 FTEs (full-time employees) from the Northern Basin, and the absolute kicker is that there is no evidence increased recovery will demonstrably improve river health.
We understand the intention of wanting to maintain sustainable use of water resources, however, this is taking that concept way too far. Australian farmers, along with 12 farming organisations, have backed a MoreThanFlow campaign, calling on the government to employ ways to improve river health and biodiversity that aren’t just about adding water. Purposeful techniques that respond to the needs of the Basin’s ecosystems such as invasive species control, have a far greater chance of improving our rivers than increasing the pool of environmental water. We’re also asking the government to make better use of environmental water it already has. With comments on the northern basin review closing tomorrow, I do ask all of our members to make a submission via farmers.org.au, and feel a sense of pride knowing you’re part of the voice of farmers.
- NSW Farmers president Derek Schoen