Northern Basin Review – tell Canberra enough is enough with quick online submission

Northern basin community members are being urged to complete a quick and easy online submission to let the Government know that enough is enough when it comes to water recovery. In a revision of the Northern Basin Plan the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) proposes a reduction of the total volume of planned recovery from 390GL to 320GL. National Farmers Federation Chief Executive Tony Mahar said despite the reduction in the amount the targeted recovery volume would have a devastating impact on the impacted communities. “The proposed 320GL target for water recovery will mean about 450 jobs will be lost from the small communities of the Northern Basin,” Mr Mahar said. He said more than 278 gigalitres of water has already been taken from production. “To take action, individuals are encouraged to complete an easy online submission and send a clear message to the MDBA that enough is enough,” NFF Chief Executive Tony Mahar said. The call to lodge a submission is part of the #morethanflow campaign. “The campaign is aimed at highlighting to Government that other non-flow measures are needed to be considered when seeking to maintain the Murray- Darling system,” Mr Mahar said. “Irrigation towns are at breaking point given the potential devastating impacts the Basin Plan, in its current form, would have on farming communities and farm businesses. “The current ‘just add water’ approach is pushing communities to the brink and also failing the environment,” Mr Mahar said. Mr Mahar said the message from Basin communities was simple. “Let’s invest in non-flow options to improve the health of the Murray-Darling, and not add to the pain caused by the Basin Plan. Enough is enough.” “We need to make the most of the environmental water that has already been recovered. “Better outcomes will be achieved by fixing cold water pollution and fish passage, controlling feral animals in key wetland and floodplain areas, and tackle carp infestations. “Governments need to commit to exhausting these opportunities, instead of inflicting more social and economic damage on communities that rely on irrigation,” Mr Mahar said. Lodge a submission by 10 February at www.farmers.org.au/morethanflow