THE Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has welcomed an independent analysis of Murray Darling Basin Plan (MDBP) efficiency measures.
Federal Water minister Barnaby Joyce has released the terms of reference for the study, which was agreed upon at a March meeting of Basin ministers.
The announcement comes as state ministers are gearing up to submit their final projects for the Basin Plan’s Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL) adjustment mechanism.
The SDL allows the Plan’s 2,750 gigalitres (GL) recovery target to be offset by 650GL, through projects that deliver equivalent environmental outcomes with less water.
“Victoria has been responsible for a number of projects that have contributed to the Murray Darling Basin Plan,” acting VFF President Brett Hosking said.
“These projects have delivered significant savings and environmental benefits and we look forward to those benefits being recognised.”
Mr Hosking said the Basin Ministers had established a credible pathway for delivering supply measure savings to adjust the Plan.
But with a deadline set for June 30, Mr Hosking encouraged state water ministers to present any remaining supply measure projects to the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA).
“We cannot miss an opportunity to have these projects put on the table and considered by the Ministerial Council, but we only have until the end of June.
“It’s a critical deadline,” Mr Hosking said.
The MDBA must provide advice to Minister Joyce by December 15 of the savings that can be achieved from these projects.
The independent analysis of efficiency measures is due to be handed down in December 2017.
And the National Irrigators Council (NIC) said meeting the promise there would be no negative community impact was critical, if the so called ‘up-water’ component of the plan was to be delivered.
That made the terms of reference for an independent study, an important step.
NIC chief executive Steve Whan, said “when then Prime Minister Gillard joined then Minister Burke to announce a plan that included provision for an additional 450GL in so called ‘up-water’ efficiency savings, their statement was very clear.
“The water could only be delivered to the environment if it had a beneficial, or at least no negative, community impact.”
He said when the plan was actually put in place, the test became whether or not an individual was willing to accept funding – a single property test.
“Very clearly that is not a test of impact on neighbours, on the viability of irrigation systems or on jobs and the welfare of the broader local community,” Mr Whan said.
“It doesn't meet the promise - and it is completely out of step with the standard demanded when major city based industries face structural adjustment,”
The NIC was very pleased to see that Basin Water ministers had recognised, that, for the promise to be met, more work needed to be done to ensure that any taxpayers money spent securing the 450GL of up-water produces benefits (or at the least no negative) for the community as well as the environment.
National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) vice president Les Gordon welcomed the release of the terms of reference.
“The NFF is pleased to see Basin Ministers put their March words into action by announcing these terms of reference,” Mr Gordon said.
“With our members, the NFF looks forward to working with the independent experts commissioned for this work, to share our experiences of delivering efficiency projects and to explore the full range of costs and benefits - on farm, on the water market and the flow on impacts to our industries and our communities.”
