The association – the national coalition of local government in the basin – will hold its 73rd national conference and annual meeting in Renmark from October 11 to 13.

“Many of us in local government have felt ignored and worse, which has led to frustration, anger and ill-will toward the Plan,” Cr Thurley, MDA national president, said.

“Despite the advocacy efforts of the MDA, local government still hasn’t been afforded a Basin-wide role in the implementation of the plan, and this has to change.”

The renewed call comes in the same week the Murray Darling Basin Authority released its draft Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL) targets, designed to deliver better environmental outcomes with less water.

The MDBA said 605 gigalitres can be achieved through implementing the nominated projects which, if approved, would result in an adjustment to the sustainable diversion limits in the southern Basin. 

Three basin states, Victoria, NSW and South Australia, put forward a package of 36 projects to the MDBA, to be considered for delivering offsets.

The projects included engineering works, such as regulators, pipes and pumps to deliver water to wetlands and floodplains.

“Should the projects be implemented, this would mean more water can remain in the system for other users, including households and industry, and no further water recovery will be required in the southern Basin," MDBA executive director environmental management, Carl Binning, said.

"The Basin Plan also allows for up to a further 450 gigalitres of water to be made available to the environment through improved water use efficiency. Efficiency projects must be implemented by 2024 and have neutral or better socio-economic outcomes.

Public comment on the draft report has been invited, through the MDBA’s website, until November 3.