TANYA Plibersek used her first visit to Southern Basin communities in NSW and Victoria to to reiterate her goal as federal water minister to deliver the Murray-Daring Basin Plan targets.
“I’m here to see the Basin with my own eyes and hear from locals – from community, First Nations, industry, agriculture, and environmentalists,” Ms Plibersek said during her visit to Hay and Mildura on Wednesday and yesterday.
“The Murray-Darling Basin Plan, signed 10 years ago this year, must be delivered.
“All Basin communities and industries, not to mention the river ecosystems, depend on this.
“The Basin and it’s future is crucial for the wellbeing of all Australians.”
It comes as the Federal Government announced $37.9 million in funding to deliver water efficiency projects in Mildura, returning up to 2 gigalitres to the environmental and First Nations People.
In a joint announcement by state and federal governments, the funding will support the Lower Murray Water Efficiency project, which aims to recover 1.8 GL for the environment, with additional water savings up to 0.7GL then being returned to traditional owners and LMW urban customers.
Ms Plibersek said it was “a small but important step” toward increasing cultural water ownership and reconciliation while providing more water security for the region.
“It will also provide a more secure water supply infrastructure for nearly 5000 irrigators in the Lower Murray Water Irrigation District and create an estimated 110 local construction and project delivery jobs,” Ms Plibersek said.
