MURRAY Darling Association has re-visited its push for local government to be given a voice in the Basin Plan implementation and avoid a repeat of the concerns revealed by a Four Corners television report.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It was asserted billions of litres of water purchased by the federal government for the environment had been pumped from the Barwon-Darling system into private dams in line with the NSW government's water extraction rules.
MDA chairman and Albury councillor David Thurley said the organisation would be pushing for a long-overdue formal role in informing decisions on the implementation of the plan.
“Our local communities and councils across the Basin have worked hard and borne the pain of adjusting to reduced allocations,” Cr Thurley said.
“They have been aware of the anomalies and irregularities that affect their local areas for a long time, and have sought to be heard.”
Issues identified in the report pertained to compliance and enforcement of rules under the relevant water sharing plan.
Murray Irrigation described the allegations as “disappointing and disturbing”. Acting chairman Ben Barlow said: “Murray Irrigation expects the full suite of federal and state investigative resources to pursue every allegation and accusation with vigour.
“If substantiated, the allegations constitute a serious betrayal of every sector seeking to create a better Murray."
