Shepparton delegation to learn about the Northern Basin
Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed and a convoy of Shepparton farmers, water stakeholders, and councillors will embark on a learning tour of the Darling River to better understand water issues in the Northern Murray Darling Basin.
The delegation, made up of 15 people, will leave Shepparton on Sunday and travel across southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. The group includes Greater Shepparton councillor Geoff Dobson, dairy industry specialist and former Bega Cheese supply manager Stuart Brown, dairy farmer Russell Pell, and previous chair of the Region 2 Murray Darling Association and ex-Shepparton mayor Dennis Patterson.
Ms Sheed said there were many stories about water storage and usage in the Northern Basin, so she decided that the Shepparton community should meet with farmers, politicians, Indigenous leaders, water advocates, and people keen to restore a healthy river system in the Northern Basin.
“Irrigators and water users in the Shepparton Irrigation District understand the difficulties of managing with less water in the system, so we are interested to learn how our counterparts in the Northern Basin are dealing with the issue,” Ms Sheed said.
“Visiting farms and speaking to experts along the way will equip us with the knowledge to see the Murray Darling Basin as a whole and it will give us a clearer picture on how operations in the Northern Basin may affect the Southern Basin, and the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District.
“We also want to gain a better background knowledge on floodplain harvesting and how this impacts the Darling River and water delivery more broadly.”
Ms Sheed and the delegation will start their trip in Wentworth and travel along the Darling River to Menindee, Tilpa, Kallara Station, Dirranbandi, St George, Moree and the Macquarie Marshes.
ENDS
Media contact
Elaine Cooney 0447 820 466│elaine.cooney@parliament.vic.gov.au