Share your views on the MDBA’s environmental offsets

Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed is encouraging people to have their say on 22 projects that will help Victoria deliver its share of the environmental recovery targets of the Murray Darling Basin Plan.

Ms Sheed said an information session to be held on the Murray Darling Basin Authority’s proposed environmental offset projects in Shepparton tomorrow was a good opportunity for people in the region to contribute to their water future.

Ms Sheed said it was essential to ensure the 650GL of water recovery targets are achieved without further water buybacks. 

“These projects are an important part of the rollout of the Murray Darling Basin Plan and from the point of view of our irrigation communities, it is most important that recovery of this 650GL of water be achieved from offsets or environmental works,” Ms Sheed said.

“The success of these environmental initiatives will help to remove the risk of future buybacks and of more water coming out of the consumptive pool.”

Ms Sheed said it was important for regional voices to be heard.

“I am well aware that our regional communities are suffering from fatigue over water issues but we must remain on task to ensure the future sustainability of our irrigation communities,” Ms Sheed said.

“The issue of the removal of a further 450GL under the Murray Darling Basin Plan remains a highly contentious issue and we are lobbying the Victorian Government to ensure that no further water is removed from irrigation as we know it will have a significant detrimental impact on the socio-economic outcomes of our communities.

“I encourage people to participate in this process to ensure we have a say in the future of our waterways and our irrigation industries.

“I look forward to seeing the detail of the projects and hope that the environmental benefits they deliver will be evident in the improved health of our local river systems.”

The Murray Darling Basin Authority will begin taking formal submissions on the 22 projects in October and will report to the Basin Ministerial Council in December.

For more information about upcoming information sessions and to make a submission, visit https://www.mdba.gov.au/about-us/partnerships-engagement/information-sessions

ENDS

Media contact

Riahn Smith 0419 138 978│riahn.smith@parliament.vic.gov.au

 

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