INLAND Rivers Network has been a long-term advocate for healthy rivers, wetlands and groundwater in the Murray-Darling Basin.
The basin plan is the best way to restore environmental health to Australia’s largest river system.
We applaud the federal government for picking up the pieces of the plan through introducing the Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023 to Parliament before key basin plan deadlines are in place.
This bill provides an opportunity for all interests to regroup and find a way forward for the public good.
There has been much misinformation about potential flooding by environmental flows.
Returning more water for environmental restoration will not involve anywhere near the volumes experienced during the recent large scale floods.
Communities along the Murray, Murrumbidgee and Goulburn rivers should welcome the proposed investment into raising bridges, causeways and private land access that will be beneficial during natural flood events.
The purchase of easements to allow low to medium flooding of important wetlands and floodplain vegetation is a win-win outcome for everyone.
Similarly, the scare campaign about buybacks.
Regional communities have been impacted as much by trade to different districts, as new water uses like almonds emerge, as they have been by water purchased by governments.
Recent economic analysis commissioned by the MDBA found that healthy rural communities depend on many other factors than water for irrigation.
Many communities in the basin have suffered from poor river health.
It is time to move on from parochial politics and orchestrated scare campaigns: let’s all work towards the best outcomes for the nation.
Bev Smiles
President
Inland Rivers Network
