Progress has been made to accredit NSW Water Resource Plans (WRP) with the announcement today of the finalisation of the first plan, welcomed by Shadow Water Minister Perin Davey.
Water Minister, Tanya Plibersek, announced the accreditation of the NSW Border Rivers Alluvium Water Resource Plan at the Murray Darling Association Conference in Albury.
“This is an important step,” Senator Davey said.
“We know that NSW had submitted all of their water resource plans but the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) wanted more work done.
“This accreditation shows the work is being done but we need to ensure all water resource plans are being assessed equally across the Basin.
“For example, we know that Victorian WRPs were accredited despite the MDBA and the Victorian Government having differing definitions of planned environmental water and acknowledging the final versions require ongoing monitoring and oversight.1
“We need to progress the remaining NSW WRPs and applying the same principles as used for the Victorian plans may be the way we can see more plans signed off,” Senator Davey said.
Senator Davey also welcomed the announcement by the Minister that the Murray-Darling Ministerial Council will meet on 12 October.
“This meeting should look at Basin Plan timelines and the realities of achieving the final stages of the Plan.
“The Ministerial Council should release their agenda so people can have confidence that all of the crucial topics are being addressed and to give people a level of transparency into the conversations behind decisions that impact their lives,” Senator Davey said.
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