REGIONAL communities now have certainty after an historic agreement between federal, state and territory governments that secures the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
Member for Barker Tony Pasin said the agreement was the last major piece in the Murray-Darling Basin Plan puzzle.
“This will protect both jobs and production in the Riverland, Murraylands and Lower Lakes and Coorong,” Mr Pasin said.
“It’s a historic agreement and means the Murray-Darling Basin Plan will be delivered.
“People living in Barker now have certainty.
“This will allow our local irrigators, fishers and river users to plan for the future.
“It also assures the future of the hundreds of towns along the river that rely on it.
“The board of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority will also be expanded to include Indigenous members to make sure First Australians are heard.”
Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources David Littleproud said the agreement would have positive outcomes for more than two million people living in the basin.
“When I became agriculture minister I said I wanted to take the politics out of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and lead,” Mr Littleproud said.
“The agreement on a neutrality test guarantees all water recovered towards the 450GL will create positive or neutral socio-economic outcomes.
“A further $132m will be allocated to the southern states to deliver the 605GL of down water projects, including $70m to be spent on restoring the health of the Coorong.”
