Please note: this is an old article
It was published in December 2011, so the information may be out-of-date.
Greater Shepparton City Council is encouraging business and industry to put forward submissions to the Murray Darling Basin Authority’s Proposed Murray Darling Basin Plan. The proposed plan was released on November 28 and the first public session was held in Shepparton the following day.
Manager Economic Development Geraldine Christou is urging all industries that could be impacted by the recommendations in the plan to put forward their concerns and supporting evidence in a submission to the Authority.
"Council supports the basic intent of the plan which is to improve environmental outcomes, but we would like to see stronger acknowledgement of the water that has already been saved through irrigation modernisation and a greater focus on infrastructure improvements and engineering to find further water savings rather than the more easily obtained water buy backs.
"The plan acknowledges that there will be a socio-economic impact on our communities and we are hopeful that whatever agreement is eventually reached will include some opportunities to assist our region through any adjustment period."
On announcing the release of the plan Craig Knowles, Chair of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, stressed that he wanted to make their intentions clear.
"This is an important opportunity for Australia, the historic opposed views of different interest groups will do nothing to improve the wellbeing of our nation, or the wellbeing of the health of the basin. We need to stop having the tug of war and work together."
There is a 20-week consultation period to put forward submissions to the Darling Basin Authority and for various community and industry discussions to occur.
Council representatives have already participated in a number of meetings and interest group discussions with Federal Water Minister Tony Burke and Chair of the Murray Darling Authority Craig Knowles.
Council will be discussing the plan in more detail in coming months and will prepare a submission.
Council also encourages those parties wanting to put forward their submissions to do so before the end of April 2012.
For more information about the proposed plan and the submission process please contact the Murray Darling Basin Authority www.mdba.gov.au.