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Murray Darling water buyback to be lowered by 200 billion litres Murray Darling water buyback to be lowered by 200 billion litres
(1 day later)
The federal government will seek to reduce the Murray Darling water buyback target by 200 billion litres that will lower the government’s previously announced cap, according to a new strategy paper. The federal government will seek to reduce the Murray Darling water buyback target by 200bn litres, which will lower the government’s previously announced cap, according to a new strategy paper.
A water-recovery strategy obtained by the Australian to be released on Monday outlines that the government can improve water quality for the river with a lower buyback target than originally set. The paper outlines a reduction from the 1500 billion litre buyback amount to 1300 billion litres. A water-recovery strategy obtained by the Australian, to be released on Monday, outlines that the government can improve water quality for the river with a lower buyback target than originally set. The paper outlines a reduction from the 1,500bn litre buyback amount to 1,300bn litres.
The amount of water taken from the basin has been a source of controversy. Irrigators and farmers have been critical of heavy restrictions on use of the water, while environmental groups say more water needs to be returned into the basin to ensure the river’s flow isn’t damaged.The amount of water taken from the basin has been a source of controversy. Irrigators and farmers have been critical of heavy restrictions on use of the water, while environmental groups say more water needs to be returned into the basin to ensure the river’s flow isn’t damaged.
The Murray-Darling basin plan introduced by the previous labor government in 2012 set a target of 2,750 billion litres to be returned to the environment, of which 1500 billion litres would be achieved through buybacks. The Murray-Darling basin plan, introduced by the previous Labor government in 2012, set a target of 2,750bn litres to be returned to the environment, of which 1,500bn litres would be achieved through buybacks.
But the new strategy plan says the water targets could be met with a lower rate of buyback.But the new strategy plan says the water targets could be met with a lower rate of buyback.
“It is expected that the total buyback required to bridge the gap will be significantly less than the 1500GL cap,’’ the strategy says. “It is expected that the total buyback required to bridge the gap will be significantly less than the 1,500GL cap," the strategy says.
The report also flags the possibility of the buybacks being less than 1,300 "if infrastructure investments return higher volumes".
It adds that more than two thirds of the 2,750bn litre recovery target has been recouped, of which 543bn litres have been recovered from infrastructure works.
The parliamentary secretary for the environment, Simon Birmingham, said the water recovery could be achieved through other measures.The parliamentary secretary for the environment, Simon Birmingham, said the water recovery could be achieved through other measures.
“It is transparently obvious that had Labor spent the $1.5bn on water-savings infrastructure in the Murray-Darling you would have found lower levels of buyback required and that would have reduced the pain for river communities,” he said. “It is transparently obvious that had Labor spent the $1.5bn on water-savings infrastructure in the Murray-Darling, you would have found lower levels of buyback required and that would have reduced the pain for river communities,” he said.
In a forward to the report the minister added that water buybacks "will no longer be the main focus for water recovery".
"Purchasing will progress at a significantly slower and more predictable pace with the government's focus on strategic and targeted initiatives," he wrote.
The report also commits to encouraging investment in infrastructure that directly assists in meeting the basin targets.
"This funding supports a range of investments in rural water use, management and efficiency; with the main emphasis being on projects to improve the operation of off-farm delivery systems and helping irrigators improve on-farm water use efficiency," it said.