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Water timelines all over the place

Water timelines all over the place

The NSW Farmers’ Association is seeking assistance from the NSW State Government in addressing the timelines for implementation of the Murray Darling Basin Plan.

NSW Farmers’ Association Water Spokesman John Ward says the Association has been vocal about the need to address the social, economic and environmental needs in the Basin, but farmers are also concerned about timelines.

“Currently the Basin Plan will be implemented in each Basin State upon expiry of their individual Water Sharing Plans or equivalent,” Mr Ward said.

“In NSW, the Water Sharing Plans are currently set to expire in 2014, some 5 years before the expiry of the Victorian Plans in 2019,” Mr Ward said.

“Bringing all States in line with the 2019 implementation date will provide enough time to ensure a fairer outcome,” he said.

The Basin Plan is intended to be a strategic plan for the integrated and sustainable management of water resources in the Murray–Darling Basin. “The Association believes the Murray Darling Basin Plan is the most important policy issue facing communities in the Basin, which is why we are urging for the consideration of all users in the planning process. “Further to this, the timing for implementation is key to equity amongst the states. “Delegates at Annual Conference have voted to seek the deferral of the implementation of the Basin Plan in NSW to ensure that all States are treated equally within the Basin Planning framework,” he said.

“The NSW Government must stand up for the interests of this State and ensure that everything is done to make the Basin Plan a fair and equitable Plan for all States in the Murray Darling Basin,” Mr Ward concluded.