The Wentworth Group comprises academics who say they are “dedicated to water and land policy reform”, and have been especially vocal on issues around the Murray-Darling Basin Plan which has attracted billions of dollars in government funding.
The group’s recent report claims the $13 billion Basin Plan has failed to improve the health of Australia’s biggest river system.
However, this is in stark contrast to the latest Murray-Darling Basin Authority evaluation, which says, “the Basin Plan is having a significant and positive impact on the environment”.
And the Wentworth Group has angered many people and organisations who live and breathe the basin with what have been called “totally false” commentary that water buybacks have not hurt irrigation communities economically.
Murray Regional Strategy Group chair Geoff Moar said all his member organisations comprise individuals who live in the NSW Murray region and are dismayed with some of the Wentworth Group claims.
“I’m at a loss to understand their motivation and cannot comprehend how a group of well-funded academics can be so out of touch with reality,” Mr Moar said.
MRSG has been involved in discussions with the MDBA on ways to further improve the Basin Plan, including using more local knowledge and working with communities on alternatives to buybacks.
“Independent data has shown us that the loss of more than 3000 jobs across the basin can be attributed to water recovery,” Mr Moar said.
“You only have to look at our towns and the population decline many of them are facing to see the economic damage.
“It is disheartening when Sydney and Canberra-based academics without local knowledge make broad-based statements which paint a false picture.
“While they enjoy well-paid university office jobs, in our communities we are seeing increased mental health issues, schools with student populations in significant decline and main streets with too many empty shops.
“That’s what is happening in the real world; a world in which, despite what the academics try to tell us, farm prices are not a true indication of productivity and rural health, either socially or economically.”
Mr Moar said the Wentworth Group had previously supported a ‘just add water’ approach to the Basin Plan, despite those with lived experience of the river system encouraging governments and authorities to concentrate more on effective water management rather than just increasing flows.
“If this group thinks ‘just add water’ is not working, I presume they will now change the focus and promote a new era of working with local communities on the complementary measures that are needed to achieve genuine environmental gain,” Mr Moar said.
“I look forward to welcoming the academics to our region so they can learn how this can be achieved, with the focus on investing in localised projects and complementary measures.
“Work is currently under way on the Basin Plan Review, scheduled for completion in 2026, and this is the ideal time to rethink our approach.
“In light of their comments, I also look forward to the Wentworth Group supporting our calls for a moratorium on water buybacks until the review is completed.”
The group’s report says there are more fish kills and fewer birds.
Mr Moar responded that everyone wants to see a reduction in Menindee fish kills, however for this to be achieved there must be an acceptance that it can only occur when we solve problems in the Darling/Baaka and at the end of the system.
It cannot be fixed by recovering more water from the Southern Basin.
And if the Wentworth Group wants a true indication of bird populations, he said it needs to start including private land and farms in the bird count as they provide excellent novel ecosystems for native birds, with accessible food sources.
“I will welcome the day when those from Sydney and Canberra who want to tell us how to look after the Murray-Darling Basin will start working collaboratively with our communities on genuine solutions.
“When we have a decline in the health of wetlands it has generally been caused by over-watering, which locals are able to explain, though their concerns are usually overlooked or ignored.
“When we recognise the contribution of local knowledge to environmental outcomes we can make more headway in ecological health.”
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