Council delegation takes water fight to Canberra

By Murray Silby

Aug 17, 2023

**Water talks:** (From left) City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali, federal Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek and council’s chief executive Peter Harriott during a meeting at Parliament House in Canberra to discuss the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and its impacts on the Goulburn Murray region.

City of Greater Shepparton representatives have taken the region’s battle to retain water to Canberra.

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Mayor Shane Sali and chief executive Peter Harriott met with federal Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek in the capital on Thursday, August 3, to discuss the implications of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan on the Goulburn Valley.

Cr Sali said the message the delegation took to Ms Plibersek was that the Goulburn Murray region could not afford any more irrigation buybacks.

“Obviously, you don’t go there expecting to get an outcome on that day, but clearly it’s another opportunity to reinforce our position and that’s what we constantly continually have to do,” he said.

The water issue was raised during Greater Shepparton City Council’s monthly meeting on Tuesday, August 15, with Cr Geoff Dobson bringing a motion that recommended council acknowledge the meeting with Ms Plibersek, continue to lobby her on the impact of the plan on the region, advocate for an extension of time for the completion of the plan and work with state and federal governments to ensure that further water recovery is subject to socio-economic assessment and argue for any further water recovery to be sourced from outside the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District.

“That meeting (with the minister) should not be underestimated by this community,” Cr Dobson told the council meeting.

“I mean that’s what we’re here for, to advocate.

“It demonstrates that the minister is willing to hear from local communities via council representatives.

“We support the basic concept of the plan, as without a healthy river system, communities will not survive.

“However, we have measured the economic impact of the plan implemented since 2012 and we’ve found the impact is at least 10 times that of the closure of the coal-fired power stations in the Latrobe Valley.”

Cr Sali said the council would continue to lobby the minister on the region’s concerns.

“We appreciate the opportunity that Minister Plibersek has given us and we’ll continue those strong relationships with her moving forward as well,” he said.

The motion was supported by all councillors present, except Cr Sam Spinks, who abstained. Cr Greg James was not present.