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Local weighs into Basin Plan debate

THE operator of a Riverland-based environmental tourism business has spoken out at critics of water buybacks and has moved to highlight the importance of meeting Murray-Darling Basin Plan water-recovery targets.

Barker MP Tony Pasin, Renmark Paringa Mayor Neil Martinson, Citrus SA chair Mark Doecke and Renmark grape grower Jack Papageorgiou last week all spoke to The Murray Pioneer about their opposition to the potential re-introduction of water buybacks – should Labor win the upcoming federal election on May 21 – and their negative impact on Riverland irrigators.

However, in a letter to the editor in today’s Pioneer, Murray River Walks operator Tony Sharley said South Australia was only required to contribute a portion of the 450GL of water for the environment stipulated in the initial Murray-Darling Basin Plan. 

“Acquiring 450GL meets cultural and community needs, protects our river lifestyles, and ensures that a diverse economy is more sustainable than an economy focused only on water extraction,” Mr Sharley said. 

“Only 32 GL (7 per cent) of the 450GL must be found in South Australia, not the full 450GL.

“Regular overbank flows used to occur almost every year in South Australia, naturally irrigating redgum forests, triggering fish and bird breeding and producing fabulous ‘yabby years’, whereas today these natural events occur about one year in 10 and the Basin Plan has still not managed to close this gap.

“Hence the vital importance of the agreed 450GL to enhance the 2100GL secured to date.” 

Mr Sharley claimed some irrigators saw environmental and economic benefits from participating in buyback initiatives. 

“Many irrigators have already chosen to participate in voluntary buyback schemes because the incentives were acceptable, and if they choose to sell water to the environment because they want to see it restored, they should have that option and be able to make that decision for themselves,” he said. 

Mr Sharley said ensuring the plan’s success was vital to the long-term sustainability of Murray River irrigation. 

“We have lost more flow than any other state and we have jobs and industries that will benefit from the 450 GL,” he said.