The advisory body has urged the Murray Darling Basin ministerial council to consider that water-recovery options should be specifically tailored to suit regions.
“Basin communities have been a on a long and difficult journey of water reform, and this should be recognised,” the basin committee said in a statement released after its November meeting.
The committee directed its comments to the water ministers from each state and Commonwealth and specifically requested their statement be published.
“Communities want a clear signal on what water-recovery options governments are willing to consider and what is not on the table,” the committee said.
“One size, does not fit all — there are significant differences between communities as some regions will accept recovery options that others won’t.”
The committee pointed out there had been significant modernisation and efficiency gains already achieved.
“Communities are clear that the basin plan should be about outcomes and not just numbers.”
On the SDLAM projects, the committee said any decisions on the future of these projects should be made now, not next year.
Consideration should be given to allowing extra time for the SDLAM projects to deliver what was originally intended.
SDLAM is a program designed to achieve similar or improved environmental outcomes for rivers, wetlands and wildlife using less water as part of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
SDLAM projects can be achieved through supply, including constraints, or efficiency measures.
The basin community committee comprises 15 representatives including Adrian Weston from the Goulburn Broken and Rachel Kelly from the Mid Murray and Murrumbidgee.
The Ministerial Council’s communique, published in February, referred to the need for the involvement of First Nations in the plan, as acknowledged by the community committee, but most of the advice from the community committee, was not touched on by the ministers.
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