With water buybacks off the table the MDBA's focus is squarely on efficiency and talking with communities.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The MDBA's new chairman Sir Angus Houston is on his first official tour of the Basin, and is meeting with Griffith, Leeton and Murrumbidgee councils, SunRice, Murrumbidgee Irrigation and Member for Murray Helen Dalton. He was also taken to see the IREC's research farm and Yanco Creek.
Sir Angus said he had been encouraged by federal water minister Keith Pitt's changes and his commitment to recover 605 megalitres through sustainable diversion limit projects.
Sir Angus said his focus was to better engage Basin communities to help deliver the plan.
"We're really the facilitators, if you have a look at the 605 (megalitres), all those projects have to be delivered by state governments," Sir Angus said.
"One of the things that needs to be factored in, beyond just the water is the second, third and fourth water effects.
MORE NEWS:
"SunRice is a great example, in that growing the rice is the first step."
MDBA CEO Phillip Glyde said the decision to stop buybacks removed pressure from irrigators and would mean environmental water recovery would come through efficiency measures including lining channels or drip irrigation.
"We still have to get to the environmentally friendly level of consumption," Mr Glyde said.
"Cotton and rice farmers are the most water efficient farmers in the world because they have to work on a dry continent, and we need all irrigated agriculture to be that efficient."
By re-focusing on engagement with the community, Sir Angus hopes to develop not only constructive relationships, but "trusting relationships".
While the 'new guy on the block' he said that he needed to see how the the Murray Darling Basin Plan was working on the ground.
"I'm confident with Phillip's leadership and the way the MDBA works, you can sit through lots of briefings but you need to look and see it and speak to the people doing it," Sir Angus said.
"I've dealt with lots of experts in my life, the defence force is full of specialists and for somebody who ends up at the top of the defence force, they're not selected for their specialty, they're selected for their ability to operate and lead at a strategic level."
Declan Rurenga
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
