It was organised by the Murray Regional Strategy Group, which hosted the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder Dr Simon Banks.
He was accompanied by Angus MacGregor, the acting branch head, Southern Basin, Taskforce and Portfolio Environmental Water Division.
MRSG expressed that it is keen to work with governments to deliver the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, with its member organisations being adamant this can be achieved without damaging water buybacks which are being pursued by the federal government.
MRSG chair Geoff Moar said governments and their agencies should be working collaboratively with those who have local knowledge, and in doing so, their efforts can overcome some of the unforeseen negative impacts of the Basin Plan.
“When the Basin Plan was modelled, it was not understood that once a certain flow height is reached in the Murray River, water actually heads north across the floodplain and as a result the proposed volumes under the plan cannot physically be delivered,” Mr Moar said.
“We explained this and other issues to Dr Banks, and I believe following our workshop he has a greater appreciation for some of the challenges that are faced when authorities try to send huge quantities of water down the system.”
Dr Banks was presented with the Murray Valley Adaptive Road Map, which is a solutions package developed by members of MRSG based on local knowledge and experience of the numerous creek systems in the mid-Murray region of NSW.
It was explained to Dr Banks that by looking at multiple pathways of delivering both operational and environmental water, win:win outcomes can be achieved for the environment, farmers and communities across the region.
It can also protect jobs and help farmers grow more food, thus helping to ease the cost of living crisis.
“By working with locals on localised projects we can protect our environment without increasing the pressure on the Murray River, and also without more buybacks,” Mr Moar said.
“Over many decades of water reform, the one constant in an ever-changing landscape has been local knowledge and experience.
However, at the same time there has been a revolving door of departmental and political representatives, at times seeing knowledge lost and individuals or governments working across different agendas.
“As we explained to Dr Banks, this is another key reason why there should be more input from those with the local lived knowledge and experience.”
Mr Moar thanked Dr Banks and Mr MacGregor for taking the time to meet with MRSG, and also thanked Edward River Council interim CEO Gary Arnold and Linda Fawns, who also attended the workshop.
At its conclusion Dr Banks and Mr MacGregor were taken on a tour of the Millewa and Barmah Chokes, inspected some local natural assets and then taken to Moama and shown riverbank erosion caused by high flows.
“MRSG would welcome ongoing engagement with the office of Dr Banks, as well as political representatives and others from government agencies including the MDBA,” Mr Moar said.
“With a collaborative approach we believe improvements can be made to the Basin Plan, with future generations being the main beneficiary.”
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