JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
The Australian Government is contributing over $330 million to accelerate delivery of five Murray Darling Basin Plan projects in the New South Wales Murray and Murrumbidgee, generating up to 450 direct new jobs for the region.
Minister for Resources and Water Keith Pitt said fast-tracking the works program would boost regional economies, meet the needs of basin communities and deliver for the environment.
“This is about knuckling down to deliver the shared commitment by the Australian and New South Wales governments to achieve better environmental outcomes in the Murray-Darling Basin,” Minister Pitt said.
“The Coalition Government will continue to work collaboratively with other Basin jurisdictions to achieve a healthy river system that supports thriving agriculture and communities.
“Together with New South Wales, we are committed to working with communities and implementing these changes by 30 June 2024.”
New South Wales Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said community input and support was critical to the projects.
“In moving the projects forward we have taken on board the feedback we have received from communities,” Mrs Pavey said.
“Done right, these projects can contribute to keeping 605 gigalitres of water in productive use, benefit the environment, and deliver the healthy rivers we all rely on.”
Member for Farrer Sussan Ley MP said that the substantial investment in infrastructure in her electorate was expected to create some 1300 direct and indirect infrastructure jobs across Murray and Murrumbidgee communities and generate spending up and down main streets.
“These projects means millions of dollars and jobs flowing through towns like Wentworth, Balranald, Wakool, Barham and Deniliquin which will make a real difference,” Ms Ley said.
The five projects were nominated by New South Wales under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan’s Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism to improve water management and environmental outcomes using less water.
The 5 projects are:
• Koondrook-Perricoota Flow Enabling Works (part of the Yarrawonga to Wakool constraints)
• Mid-Murray Anabranches Constraints Demonstration Reach (part of the Yarrawonga to Wakool constraints)
• Sustainable Diversion Limits offsets in the Lower Murray: Locks 8 and 9 project
• Murrumbidgee and Murray National Park Project
• Modernising Supply Systems for Effluent Creeks Project (Yanco Creek Modernisation Project)
Senator for New South Wales Perin Davey said that it was good to see the Commonwealth and State Government working together to get some action along the Murray and Murrumbidgee.
“These projects are about doing more with the water we have and delivering the necessary environmental outcomes without resorting to buybacks, which strip held water entitlements away from productive use,” Senator Davey said.
“Importantly, we have heard that communities don’t want delivery of these projects driven from the cities and so this time we are adopting a truly cooperative delivery model.
“These projects are an important step towards guaranteeing the welfare of affected NSW Basin communities, by moving away from buybacks and the overly simplistic focus on numbers, which has hurt them in recent years.”
Member for Albury Justin Clancy said this is great win for the Basin communities.
“Today’s agreement creates a pathway that highlights our work to ensure our communities are being heard and that we can deliver tangible outcomes under the Plan,” Mr Clancy said.
Upper House MP Wes Fang said NSW has done a lot of heavy lifting to deliver water back to the environment.
“We are delivering on environmental outcomes for the Murray Darling Basin and we have completed or almost completed 12 of our 21 SDLAM projects,” Mr Fang said.
Information on the projects is available NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s website (https://www.industry.nsw.gov.au/water/plans-programs/sdlam).