NEARLY 200 leaders from across the Murray-Darling Basin gathered in Brisbane last week to debate the future of water management, with northern Victorian councils warning food production and regional communities must remain central to the basin plan.
The Murray River Group of Councils sent a delegation to the Basin Leadership Summit, where representatives from environmental groups, farmers, academics and government agencies came together to discuss the once-in-a-decade review of the basin plan.
MRGC chairperson and Swan Hill Rural City Council Mayor Stuart King said the summit provided a rare chance for people with sharply different views to sit down together.
“The focus of the conference was the basin plan review, providing a rare and valuable opportunity for leaders with differing perspectives to engage, share insights, and build stronger relationships,” Councillor King said.
“The conversations were genuine and highly worthwhile.”
Cr King used the forum to highlight the critical role northern Victorian communities and irrigated agriculture played in supporting Australia’s food security and economic prosperity.
“The next version of the basin plan has to ensure that water resources are managed in a way that delivers environmental outcomes, supports thriving regional communities and secures sustainable food production in northern Victoria and that is what we are advocating for,” he said.
He said the summit reinforced the significance of the current review process.
“The summit was a timely reminder that the basin plan review is a once-in-a-decade opportunity to improve water management across the basin and learn from the past 14 years,” Cr King said, noting discussions at the conference showed strong support for shifting the basin plan’s focus toward measurable outcomes.
He also welcomed comments from Murray-Darling Basin Authority chief executive Andrew McConville, who acknowledged the official discussion paper may not have given enough attention to food production and basin communities.
“Conference discussions highlighted strong support for refocusing the Basin Plan on tangible outcomes,” Cr King said.
“I also welcomed comments from Andrew McConville acknowledging that the discussion paper could have placed greater emphasis on food production and basin communities, a perspective MRGC has long championed.”
The Murray River Group of Councils said it would continue pushing for basin communities to be placed at the heart of the revised plan.
“We need to restore confidence in our communities,” Cr King said.
“Our six councils along the Murray River in northern Victoria rely on the continued production of food for our economic sustainability, and to feed Australia and the world.”
“Likewise, we support the maintenance of healthy, working rivers and wetlands, which are essential for community wellbeing.”
Submissions for the basin plan review are open until 1 May.
