FARMERS and water advocacy groups say it comes as no surprise that the controversial Murray-Darling Basin Plan will not be completed on time.
Earlier in the month, federal water minister Tanya Plibersek asked the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to assess and provide a report on the likelihood of the plan meeting its water recovery targets by the legislated June 2024 deadline.
A statement released by MDBA chair Sir Angus Houston this week told Ms Plibersek that full implementation of the plan would not be possible by the deadline, saying that “the authority remains deeply concerned about key aspects of the plan’s delivery”.
“Implementation of the basin plan is at a critical juncture,” Sir Angus wrote.
“It is important that the challenges inhibiting the full delivery of the basin plan are quickly addressed to provide a clear pathway forward.
“With a changing climate, implementing the basin plan remains central to giving our rivers and the communities that depend on them the best chance of a healthy future.”
Moulamein irrigation farmer and National Irrigators’ Council chair Jeremy Morton told The Guardian the decision was important but “hardly a surprise”.
“In reality, you name one project that goes for a decade or more that has ever come in on time or on budget,” he said.
“At least with this one, they haven’t spent all the money yet, so they’ve still got plenty of money available to ensure that they get where they need to go.
“The interesting part will be what actually comes out of the extension process.”
Mr Morton said he hoped the government and MDBA would rethink parts of the plan.
“From the National Irrigators’ point of view and most farmers’ point of view, the thing that we have talked about for a long time is the opportunity to amend or bring in new projects that achieve environmental outcomes,” Mr Morton said.
“We think that’s really important, and we hope that’s where (the Ministerial Council) when they get together make some decisions about that. That’s the sort of thing that they think needs to be happen.”
