The Murray Darling Basin Authority have announced there will be an independent review into the science of South Australia's Lower Lakes.
The review will be led by CSIRO and assisted by the MDBA's Advisory Committee on Social, Economic and Environmental Sciences (ACSEES).
The announcement follows NSW Nationals, Deputy Premier, John Barilaro and Water Minister, Melinda Pavey, threatening to withdraw NSW from the Murray Darling Basin Plan if their list of demands is not met, including that barrages on the Lower Lakes be lifted to allow seawater back into Lake Alexandrina.
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But while NSW Ministers believe allowing seawater into the Lower Lakes is necessary during drought to create water-savings up-stream, others argue lifting the barges would damage the ecology of the region and result in few megalitres recovered.
The MDBA's announcement making it clear the review is being carried out to put debate on the origins and management of the Lakes to bed.
"We're confident in the way governments are managing the Lower Lakes but know there is renewed community interest in all aspects of water management, which is why we wanted this review to take place," said MDBA's Carl Binning.
NSW Water Minister, Melinda Pavey, responded to the announcement by stating interim inspector general of the Murray Darling Basin water resources, Mick Keelty, was in the best position to oversee the review.
The Minister also stated they needed to get to the bottom of whether the Lakes were originally a salt-water system.
"There are still questions remaining over the 2009 Gell Report and alleged changes made to the original version, which referred to it being an estuarine system," Minister Pavey stated.
"This Report was the genesis for the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
"This allegation strikes at the core of what regional Australia doesn't trust about the plan.
"Simply, if it was a fresh water system, why were the barrages originally put in?
The MDBA stated the review will be chaired by Dr Francis Chiew from CSIRO with support from Ms Jennifer Hale (Independent aquatic ecology consultant), Dr Michael Reid (University of New England) and Dr Klaus Joehnk (CSIRO).
