Victorian Minister for Water, Peter Walsh, has announced he wants to see a ‘significantly changed’ Murray-Darling Basin Plan as a result of last weeks joint feedback provided by Basin Ministers.

 

Mr Walsh said he expects the changes thanks to a consensus document submitted in response to the Basin Plan by the Commonwealth, Queensland, NSW, South Australian and Victorian Water Ministers.

  

"This is our message to the MDBA that there needs to be significant changes to the plan before it is presented to Federal Parliament, balancing not only the needs of the environment but also food producers and the communities that rely on them," Mr Walsh said.

 

"The consensus document particularly addresses the need for the inclusion of a sustainable diversion limit (SDL) adjustment mechanism and fair state apportionment for the downstream contribution.

 

"Basin states have also clearly outlined to the Commonwealth and the MDBA that state knowledge and expertise must be used in the implementation of the Plan. The MDBA asked for this advice, now it must listen."

 

Mr Walsh said the State Government remained committed to working with State and Commonwealth counterparts to develop a Basin Plan that would promote environmental sustainability while ensuring that northern Victorian farmers continue to benefit from the river system.

 

The State Government is continuing to lobby for the reduction of environmental flows to 2,100 gigalitres instead of the proposed 2,750.

 

"Victoria has used the MDBA's modelling formula to show that the health of the Murray River, including the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth, could be secured using 2100 gigalitres of entitlements if water held by the Commonwealth is used more efficiently, instead of the proposed 2750 gigalitres," Mr Walsh said.