Murray Darling Basin Plan Response

On November 28, 2011, the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) released the Draft Murray Darling Basin Plan proposing a Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL) of 10,873 GL by 2019, which means a recovery target of 2750GL for the environment by 2019.

The Australian Dairy Industry Council (ADIC) is leading the dairy industry’s response to the Draft Plan, which is open for a 20-week consultation period.

The ADIC has formed a Basin Taskforce dedicated to analysing the Draft Plan and its impacts on the dairy industry and its communities within the Basin. The Taskforce will continue to develop solutions to identified problems within the Draft which they see as having adverse affects on the industry.

The ADIC believe the water recovery targets proposed in the draft Basin Plan would mean a permanent drought for dairy farmers and regional towns.

The dairy industry seeks:

1. A water recovery target set at the level required to meet catchment SDLs (1636GL)

2. The 2015 review should assess environmental works and measures, improved river operations and new knowledge to achieve downstream environmental outcomes.

3. No further general buyback tenders in the southern system. Buyback limited to strategic purchases linked to community-led efficiency projects.

4. Remaining buyback and infrastructure funding (~$2 billion in Water for the Future Fund + $1.4 billion committed for further buyback 2015-2019) pooled and reprioritised for investment in on- and off-farm water saving infrastructure works, environmental works and measures, and improved river operations.

5. Groundwater SDLs in Victoria set as the Permitted Consumptive Volume (PCV) in State groundwater management plans. Where no PCV is in force, the SDL is the Baseline Diversion Limit.

6. Access to a reliable and affordable water source for farms around Lake Albert.